At least 11 people, including an infant, were killed after a passenger minibus plunged into a river in Pakistan's northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, police said.

According to local authorities, the accident occurred on Thursday evening as the vehicle was travelling from Gilgit to Ghizer when the driver reportedly lost control, causing the minibus to veer off the road and fall into the river.

Police said 11 passengers lost their lives, while two others were injured and transferred to hospital for medical treatment.

Rescue teams recovered the victims from the scene, while authorities launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash.

Road accidents are relatively common in Pakistan's mountainous northern regions, where narrow roads, steep terrain and difficult driving conditions often contribute to deadly crashes.(ILKHA)