Precarious roads: Child killed, 14 injured in two traffic accidents

Iranian couple among those injured a collision between a car and a wagon near Kaghan

BALAKOT: An eight-year-old boy was killed while 14 others were injured in separate traffic incidents in Balakot and Kaghan over the weekend. Those injured include a husband and wife duo from Iran visiting the scenic valley.

The first incident took place near the Kaghan valley. An Iranian couple Sajid Mehndi and Zehra Seedat were returning from Kaghan when a wagon travelling in the opposite direction rammed into their car. The collision left the couple and their driver critically injured.

Six residents of Kaghan, who were riding in the wagon, were also injured. They included Zaheeruddin Babar, Shafqat and others. The injured were provided first aid and initial medical treatment in Kaghan and then referred to health facilities in Abbottabad and Mansehra.

In the second incident, a jeep fell into a deep ravine while travelling from Dandar to Byari on the Balakot Road.

As a result of the crash, eight-year-old Faizan, the son of Qari Abdul Salam, died. Six others riding in the jeep were also injured.

Those injured were identified as Muhammad Irfan, Safina, Razia Bibi, Khatoon Bibi Nawaz Aslam and Muddasir.

The injured and the dead were rushed to the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital in Balakot for treatment.

The family of the injured said that when they called the hospital to inform it about the accident and to dispatch an ambulance to transport the injured, their request was turned down despite the presence of an ambulance.

Moreover, they claimed that when they finally managed to transport the injured to the hospital, the doctor on duty did not bother tending to them.

Incensed at this attitude of doctors, the family of the injured staged a protest in the THQ.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2018.