Nine die, 26 injured in DG Khan bus crash

Police say driver lost control of the vehicle due to speeding

DERA GHAZI KHAN: At least nine people lost their lives while 26 others suffered injuries when a bus hit a tree in Rajanpur on Monday.

According to the police, a passenger coach, bearing registration number (LES-349), was on its way to Swat from Karachi. When it reached Bangla Dhegan on Indus Highway, the driver lost control of the vehicle as he was reportedly speeding and it hit a tree. As a result, four passengers were killed on the spot, while 26 others were injured. Later, five others died during treatment.

Soon after the incident, rescue workers and police reached the spot and started a rescue operation. Some of the deceased were identified as 42-year-old Abdul Razzaq, 25-year-old Nazimullah, Abdul Basit and 35-year-old Alamgir. The victims were shifted to District Headquarter Hospital Rajanpur for treatment and legal formalities.

Earlier, 19 passengers died and 35 others were injured when two speeding buses collided head-on near the Ghazi Ghat area in Dera Ghazi Khan. The injured included three children and a woman. The buses were carrying passengers on their way to visit holy places from DG Khan to Multan when the accident happened.

Around 18 people died while 1,069 sustained injuries in 919 road accidents in all districts of the province during the last 24 hours.

According to press release issued on Monday, 438 drivers, 21 underage drivers, 147 pedestrians and 436 passengers were among the victims of road crashes. Statistics show that 242 road traffic accidents were reported in Lahore which affected 247 persons, placing the provincial capital at top of the list followed by 79 in Faisalabad, with 93 victims, and Multan in third with 73 RTCs and 76 victims.

At least 724 motorbikes, 146 auto rickshaws, 92 motorcars, 48 vans, 15 passenger buses, 31trucks and 100 other types of vehicles and slow moving carts were involved in aforesaid road accidents.

With additional reporting from APP