At least 18 people were killed and over two dozen wounded in road mishaps across Punjab on Thursday, rescuers and police officials said.
In Jahanian area, eight people were killed and more than 20 sustained serious injuries in a collision between a speeding van and a bus. The accident took place near Adda Naukasi on Multan Road. The wounded persons were shifted to Nishtar Hospital for medical assistance, where hospital sources said the condition of some of the injured was critical. Police have launched an investigation into the matter.
In Shorkot area, at least two persons died when a trailer overturned and crushed them.
Police said that a speeding trailer turned turtle in Tehsil Chowk of Shorkot trapping two passersby under it. Rescue efforts were started soon after the incident but both persons died before they could be pulled out. The bodies were shifted to the hospital and the police, after registering a case against the trailer driver, have started the investigation.
In Lahore, an XEN of WAPDA died in a hit and run road accident. Police said that a speeding private car hit a motorcycle in Muslim Town area of the provincial capital resulting in the death of WAPDA XEN identified as Salman, before fleeing the scene. The body was shifted to hospital for postmortem and the police, after registering a case against the fleeing car driver, have started making raids for his arrest.
In Sahiwal district, a man died while his son was injured when an oil tanker hit their motorcycle. Rescue sources said that a speeding oil tanker knocked down the motorcycle carrying the man and his son in Qabula area of Sahiwal. The father died on the spot while his son was seriously wounded in the accident. The trailer driver escaped from the scene. The police, after registering a case against him, started making raids for his arrest.
In Hassan Abdal area, at least six people died and seven others were injured in a collision between a dumper and a van. Police said that a speeding dumper and a van collided head-on at the GT Road in Jahari Kas locality of Hassan Abdal. Six passengers died on the spot in the accident while seven people sustained injuries. The bodies and wounded were rushed to DHQ Hospital Hassan Abdal for medico-legal formalities. The police took both vehicles into custody and after registering a case into the incident started an investigation.
CM EXPRESSES GRIEF:
Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives in the traffic accident near Hassan Abdal.
He condoled with the bereaved families. The chief minister also directed to provide the best possible care and treatment to those injured in the accident.
