Overview
- Masked assailants armed with modern weapons stopped the Sadabahar coach near the Guddu–Kashmore link road late Monday, injured the driver, and forced male passengers off the bus while sparing women and children.
- Officials reported staged recoveries after exchanges of fire in the Somniani/Sonmiani area, culminating in all abductees being accounted for following coordinated operations led by Sukkur Range DIG Faisal Abdullah Chachar.
- Rangers and police said 13 hostages were recovered alive and one, identified as Karim Bakhsh of Jaffarabad district, died of a heart attack during captivity, though earlier tallies of abducted passengers varied across outlets.
- Authorities said a police constable was wounded, at least two suspected bandits were injured, and the assailants fired rockets at an armoured vehicle during the clashes.
- Security forces sealed routes to the riverine Katcha area, used drones and checkpoints, and cited dense fog and sugarcane fields as factors complicating the pursuit of remaining perpetrators.