Bhakkar schoolgirl struggles for life

Five other class fellows lost their lives while she suffered serious injuries in accident

BHAKKAR: Even after two months of the tragic accident, 15-year-old Sana Parveen, who suffered serious injuries in the crash in Bhakkar, is struggling for life.

The accident took place when the student of grade 9th, along with her five classmates, was en route to her village after appearing in an examination on March 31. Police said that a speedy passenger bus, coming from an opposite direction on Jhang Road, rammed into an auto and killed six girls – all students – and the auto driver.

The collision was so intense that five of the students and the auto driver died on the spot.

Parveen's father told The Express Tribune that after being in a coma for about seven weeks, her daughter is now recovering slowly. Her arms, one leg and three ribs were fractured, said Hussain, adding that his daughter is unable to sit as her spinal cord is damaged.

"Parveen will take a long time to completely recover. Even doctors have no idea when she will be able to lead a normal life," shared Hussain.

Hussain has five children and Parveen is his eldest child and very dear to him. "Since the day one, I am with my daughter at the hospital. I work as a labourer and have spent all my saving on her treatment. I am extremely concerned about my daughter and other members of the family."

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Deputy Commissioner Bhakkar Captain (retd) Waqas Rasheed said Parveen is the Punjab government is bearing all the expenses of Parveen's treatment and will continue to do until she fully recovers. He added that Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has also issued orders to increase the amount of financial aid to provide her all the facilities that can be helpful for Parveen's quick recovery.

On Saturday, CM Buzdar met with the families of the girls killed in the accident and distributed cheques of Rs500,000 to them.

Hussain told Buzdar that girls have to travel long distances due to due to unavailability of a higher secondary school and a college in their village. The chief minister said that he has directed officials to upgrade Government High Sarai School to higher secondary school as soon as possible.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2019.