Eight dead as bus falls in gorge

Survivors say driver lost control of speeding vehicle

CHAKWAL:

A passenger bus plunged into a ravine near the Ejazabad area of Chakwal district, killing eight people including four men and women each and leaving 10 injured on Monday.

The incident took place on Chowa Sedan Shah Road, some 25 kilometres away from Chakwal.

Survivors told the police and the media that the driver was speeding and lost control while negotiating a turn due to which the vehicle skidded off the road and fell into the gorge. The bus flipped many times heading down the hill sideways before hitting the ground upside down leaving people trapped inside.

Chakwal police officials along with Rescue 1122 ambulances and paramedics rushed to the site. The injured had to be pulled out of the bus after cutting through the body with electric grinders.

The 10 injured passengers were shifted to Chakwal District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital where condition of seven was said to be critical.

According to police the deceased have been identified as Naseem, Nusrat Shaheen, Fehda Khanum, Raja Laal Khan, Jawad Bashir, and three bodies that could not be identified.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2020.