MUZAFFARABAD: At least 22 people were killed on Thursday when a passenger bus plunged into a river in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, officials said.

The accident took place in Garhi Dupatta village, 22 kilometres (14 miles) east of regional capital Muzaffarabad, senior local administration official administrator Chaudhry Imtiaz told AFP.

"Rescue teams have recovered 22 bodies from the river," Imtiaz said.
The driver lost control of the bus while overtaking a car and fell in the flooded Jhelum river, he said.

A senior police official, Musa Khan, confirmed the casualties and said divers were still searching for the remaining bodies.

Pakistan has one of the world`s worst records for fatal traffic accidents, blamed on poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.

BDST: 1820 HRS, August 05, 2010