Punjab records rise in road casualties

Average daily death toll increases from nine to 12

LAHORE:

Road traffic crashes and resultant causalities have increased considerably during the ongoing year as compared to the past in Punjab.

According to official data, the accidents on average claimed 12 lives daily in the province during the ongoing year. Last year, the average death toll in accidents was nine per day.

The daily average number of road crashes has crossed 920 during 2021. In first 70 days of last year, till March 11, the average daily accidents were reported to be 897.

Every other day the news of loss of lives in road crashes is reported in the provincial capital.

On Friday, a traffic warden died after a speeding vehicle hit his motorcycle in Raiwind. The victim identified as Muhammad Naem was en-route to his duty in Lahore from Pattoki. As he reached near Raiwind on Multan Road, the speeding truck hit his motorbike.

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The received fatal injuries, while the truck driver escaped from the scene. Police said they were searching for the driver.

On Thursday, a man died while another was injured in a traffic accident in Manga Mandi.

Two victims were riding a motorcycle when a truck overturned over them.

The same day, at least 10 persons were injured after a speeding bus overturned near Kot Radha Kishan.

On Wednesday, a 22-year-old girl student died after a speeding truck hit a motorcycle in Gulberg. The victim identified as Laiba was travelling with her brother on a motorbike to her college situated in Gulberg. As they reached the M M Alam Road, the speeding truck of a private company hit them. They fell down and suffered injuries.

On Tuesday, a 30-year-old motorcyclist died in a road accident in Defence-C area. The victim identified as Qari Hanif was riding a motorbike towards Walton Road. While he was on the way, the speeding truck ran over him. The victim suffered severe injuries and died.

On Monday, a couple died after a speeding truck hit a motorcycle in Shahdara. The victims were travelling on Saggian Road when the truck suddenly rammed into their two-wheeler. They were shifted to a nearby hospital where doctors pronounced them as brought dead.

In first 70 days of 2021, on average 12 people died and 1,002 were injured in 920 road accidents daily.

During the same period last year, nine people lost their lives and 986 were injured in 897 road crashes per day.

The data compiled by Punjab Emergency Service showed that at least 614 people died and 69,077 were injured in 62,851 road crashes by March 11 during 2020.

In the ongoing year, the numbers grew drastically as 818 people lost their lives, while 69,076 were injured in 62,851 accidents during the corresponding period.

Meanwhile, at least five people died, whereas 1,037 were injured in 969 road accidents in the province during the past 24 hours. Of the victims, 640 people were severely injured, who were shifted to hospitals, while 397 people with minor injuries were treated at the accident site.

As many as 61% of the accidents involved motorbikes. The data showed that 389 adult drivers, 48 underage drivers, 155 pedestrians and 498 passengers were among the victims of the road traffic crashes.

The statistics show that 277 accidents were reported during the day in Lahore, affecting 257 people, followed by 84 in Faisalabad with 96 victims and 70 road crashes in Gujranwala with 71 victims. The dead and injured included 832 males and 210 females. Of them, 194 were under 18 years of age, 530 were between 18 and 40 years or age and 318 were above 40 years of age. According to the data, 736 motorbikes, 136 rickshaws, 111 cars, 43 vans, 10 buses, 29 trucks and 138 other types of vehicles and carts were involved in the accidents.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2021.