Pakistan

Four killed as bus plunges into Murree ditch

At least five victims, described to be in critical condition, shifted to hospitals in twin cities

Mudassir Raja July 02, 2017

Rescue officials attach a line to the bus. PHOTO: EXPRESS

RAWALPINDI: At least four members of a family, including two women, were killed and 37 others were injured when a passenger bus, whose brakes had failed, plunged into a roadside gorge near Murree on Saturday.

Local police and Rescue 1122 shifted the dead and injured to nearby hospitals in Murree. Some victims, who were critically wounded, were referred to hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad for tertiary care.

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Murree Circle Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Razaullah Khan said that a coaster (mini-bus) carrying 41 members of a family was heading back to Mandi Bahuddin after visiting the hill station.

The brakes of the bus reportedly failed near Shawala Link Road and the driver lost control of the vehicle as it plunged into a 50-feet deep ditch.

DSP Khan added that as a result of the plunge, at least two of the passengers died on the spot while 39 others were injured. They were rushed to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ) in Murree for treatment.

“Two more passengers died of their wounds in the hospital during treatment,” DSP Khan confirmed.

He added at least five of the surviving passengers were described to be critical and had been shifted to different hospitals in Rawalpindi
and Islamabad.

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Confirming that the cause of the accident was brake failure, DSP Khan said that the driver could not control the fully loaded coaster and it fell into the ditch after crashing through a roadside concrete safety barrier. Locals pulled passengers out of the coaster till police and Rescue 1122 officials reached the spot.

On a query, DSP Khan said that the victims belonged to the same family which was headed by Javed. He further said that the family was heading home to Mandi Bahauddin.

Separately, Rescue 1122 officials said that they had shifted 20 victims, including the driver of the coaster, to the CMH and THQ for medical treatment.

“Two women, who died on the spot, were identified as Bushra and Rahat,” rescue officials said. They added that around 11 passengers of the bus had only suffered minor injuries and were provided first aid on the spot.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2017.