Badakhshan: Eight commuters, including women and children, lost their lives after a passenger vehicle fell into the Kokcha River in northern Afghanistan's Badakhshan province, a local official reported on Saturday. The tragic incident occurred late Friday as the vehicle was en route to Faizabad city, the provincial capital, according to Zabihullah Amiri, the provincial director of information and culture. According to Namibia Press Agency, Amiri stated that both locals and rescuers quickly responded to the accident scene and initiated efforts to recover the bodies from the river. The casualties included the vehicle's driver and seven passengers who were close relatives, comprising three women and four children. Road accidents are a frequent cause of fatalities in Afghanistan, with thousands dying annually due to factors such as inadequate infrastructure, reckless driving, overloading, and overspeeding.