A Khaplu court in the Ghanche district of Gilgit-Baltistan remanded on Saturday two suspects in custody for two weeks in connection with a road accident in Skardu that killed three children and wounded three others.

The two suspects, who were driving a land cruiser, were sent to Skardu jail on 14-day judicial remand by civil judge Dilshad.

The first information report invoked sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 337-G (punishment for hurt by rash or negligent driving), 320 (punishment for qatl-i-khata by rash or negligent driving), and 322 (punishment for qatl-bis-sabab) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

They tried to run from the site of the road accident before being caught by bystanders. The two suspects are accused of “running the SUV over” the children, who were celebrating Eid on a pavement in front of the Eagle school, after Eidul Fitr prayers.

Later, the police detained the suspects and presented them in court for a remand.

It turned out that the driver was inexperienced, said complainant Muhammad Imtiaz.

Three children died on the spot, according to the first information report and added that residents rushed the wounded to the Khaplu hospital. They were moved to the Regional Hospital Skardu after getting first aid.

The condition of the child was said to be critical. Two out of three wounded are reported to be brothers.

“The ages of the injured and deceased children are around ten to twelve years,” Khaplu Headquarters Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Ghulam Haider told Aaj News.

Three people were killed and 18 others injured when a Skardu-bound passenger coaster coming from Rawalpindi plunged into a ravine on the Karakorum Highway near Chilas in the Diamer district last month.