18 killed after army plane crashes into residential area

ISLAMABAD: Eighteen people, including five crew members and 13 civilians, lost their lives when a small Pakistan Army aircraft crashed while on a routine training flight on the outskirts of Rawalpindi.

According to an Inter-services Public Relations (ISPR) press release issued on Tuesday, at least 13 civilians were injured in the crash as the aircraft crashed into the residential colony of Bahria Town, situated close to the old Islamabad airport, which is now an air force base.

The military’s media wing did not specify the type of aircraft involved in the crash.

Soon after the crash, which took place at around 2am, military officials cordoned off the site and a clean-up operation was launched.

Officials said the bodies were badly burnt and that DNA tests would be required for identification. MORE THAN 500 INDIAN SIKHS ARRIVE IN PAK

The Pakistan government allowed a special delegation of over 500 Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit Nankana Sahib to take part in celebrations for the 550th birth anniversary of Sikh faith founder Guru Nanak Dev, the foreign office said on Tuesday.

The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi had issued visas to the Sikh pilgrims on July 26.

The visas were granted “over and above” the thousands of visas that Pakistan issues every year under the framework of the Pakistan-india Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, the foreign office said.

16 DIE DUE TO SEASONAL RAIN, ELECTROCUTION

At least 16 people died - mostly from electrocution - and three others were injured in Karachi and other parts of Sindh province over the weekend as monsoon rains arrived in southern Pakistan.