KARAK/ MANSEHRA/ SHANGLA:
At least six people lost their lives while 20 others were injured in separate road accidents in various parts of the province.
The first incident took place in Nari Panos, situated 10 kilometres north of Karak, where a passenger coach plunged into a ravine on Sunday morning. Three people lost their lives while six others were wounded.
Karak DSP Muhammad Javed arrived at the site after the road crash to ensure the injured had been taken to a hospital.
Speaking to journalists, he said the passenger coach was travelling to Banda Daud Shah from Karak city. “The driver lost control of the vehicle,” he said. “As a result, it fell into the ravine, leaving death and destruction in its wake.”
According to the DSP, the driver lost control of the coach because its brakes failed on Nari Panos Road. “This is a very dangerous route which passes through mountains,” he added.
The deceased have been identified as Shah Miran, a levies subedar and resident of Hoti Banda, Mosam Khan, a resident of Khurram Muhammadzai, and Badshah Din.
Six passengers who were injured were taken to District Headquarters Hospital.
Later in the day, families of those who were injured in the road crash held a protest outside the hospital over the lack of health facilities there. Many of them complained there were no doctors available at the facility to attend to the needs of their loved ones. They shouted slogans against the hospital administration.
“This is one of the main health care facilities in the district,” said a protester. “However, they have turned it into a ghost hospital. There are no doctors or amenities.”
Three tourists drown
Three tourists drowned when their car plunged into Kunhar River near Faridabad, some 15 kilometres from Balakot, Mansehra on Sunday.
SDPO Syed Matloob Shah told journalists five friends were returning home after a trip to Naran when the incident occurred. The five tourists belonged to the same tribe.
“Their car plunged into the river near Faridabad Sunday morning,” he said. “The driver was possibly driving recklessly and lost control of the car.” According to Shah, rescue workers managed to save two of the five tourists. They were severely wounded and are in critical condition.
“Tanveer and Zeeshan Abbasi have been rescued,” he said. “The other three—Akhlaq Abbasi, Danish Abbasi and Rahat Abbasi—are still missing and feared dead.”
Shah added local divers made efforts to rescue the other three but the heavy current swept them away.
“Efforts are afoot to find them,” he said. “However, we are not sure if we will be able to find them.”
This is the first accident to take place at Kunhar River this summer. Many picnickers drowned in the river last year.
Twelve injured
At least 12 people were injured when a passenger coach fell into ravine near Alpuri town of Shangla district on Sunday.
A police official told The Express Tribune the passenger coach was on its way from Machal to Alpuri. As it approached Alpuri Town, the driver lost control of the vehicle and it plunged into a ravine. The injured were admitted to District Headquarters Hospital and are said to be out of danger.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2015.
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