Dangerous roads: Death toll from Eid traffic accidents rises to 24

Most of the deceased were motorcyclists

LAHORE: The death toll from road accidents during Eid holidays rose to 24 on Saturday.

Eleven of the injured brought to General Hospital were pronounced dead by Saturday. Four died at Services Hospital, two at Ganga Ram Hospital and four at Mayo Hospital.

More than 1,200 people had been hospitalised after being involved in traffic accident during Eid holidays.

The Rescue 1122 director general said that a majority of the injured were motorcyclists. “Most of the accidents involved underage drivers and teenagers who were performing wheelies,” he said. Doctors said that many of them had suffered head injuries.

Atif was killed after he lost control of his motorcycle due to speeding on the Ring Road.

Ahmad, a resident of Shahdara, died when he fell down from his motorcycle on The Mall.

Two motorcyclists, Arsalan and Kamran, who had been admitted to Mayo Hospital died on Saturday.

Allah Rakha, 60, a resident of Altaf Colony, was admitted to General Hospital after being hit by a speeding motorcyclist. He died late on Friday. Mujahid, 24, also died.

At least six people were injured when a motorcycle hit a car near Qizalbash Chowk in Nawab Town late on Friday. Another car fell into the canal after two motorcycles collided with it. It took five hours to pull out the car.

The City Traffic Police later launched a crackdown against underage motorcyclists. Chief Traffic Police Officer Tayyab Hafeez Cheema said that they had registered 368 cases against motorcyclists for one-wheeling. “Nine special squads consisting of 92 traffic officers had taken part in the operation. The special squads were deputed in Cantonment, Gulberg, on The Mall, Jail Road, Canal Road and Mughalpura,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2016.