At least nine were killed and 26 injured when unidentified armed men opened fire on a bus in Chilas city of Gilgit Baltistan on Saturday, an official said.

Deputy Commissioner of Diamer Arif Khan told Aaj News that the passenger bus came under attack around 06:30pm near the Hadur area while traveling on the Karakoram Highway.

Several passengers hailing from Kohistan, Peshawar, Ghizer, Chilas, Skardu, and Sindh were traveling in the bus which was traveling from Ghizar district to Rawalpindi, he added.

According to Khan, the bus caught fire after the attack and collided with an oncoming cargo truck.

The bus bearing registration number BLN-4647 was owned by a private company.

Director Health of Diamer Shakeel Khan said that the 26 injured and the bodies of the victims were moved to Chilas.