Residents decry rise in traffic crashes

Six people were killed in separate accidents along the same road over the weekend

MIANWALI:

Following two severe road accidents on the weekend, Minawali’s residents have grown frustrated with the rising frequency of road accidents in the area.

After the construction of the CPEC interchange, traffic flow on Mianwali’s Esa Khel Road has increased, as have daily accident figures. Last year, 107 people were killed in road in accidents in the district, but after the construction of CPEC, that number rose to 128 in just five months. Construction of the one-way road from Esa Khel Dara Tung to Mianwali has become essential to limit accidents and control traffic flow.

On Saturday, a speeding car from Kalabagh hit two siblings on a motorcycle near Swans turn. One of the bikers, Anwar, succumbed to his injuries at the scene, while his brother was rushed to the hospital. The second victim also succumbed to his injuries.

On Sunday, a coach, a bus and a motorcycle collided with each other in a horrendous accident near Paikhel Ada. Two people were killed on the spot, while ten passengers were seriously injured. Three Rescue 1122 vehicles rushed to the scene and shifted the injured to DHQ Mianwali. Four more victims were pronounced dead on arrival. Following the bus crash, people kept the victims’ dead bodies on the road and staged a protest, blocking the road for several hours.

Former Chairman Union Council Shahbaz Khel, Tariq Iqbal Khan says that since the two CPEC interchanges, Kot Beliyan and General Sanaullah Khan Shaheed Daud Khel, were constructed on Mianwali Kalabagh Road, the traffic load increased massively. He urged authorities to stop heavy traffic, otherwise the council would close the entire road. Addressing the protesters, he gave a one-week ultimatum to the district administration.

The CPEC interchanges allowed travelers to reach Rawalpindi and Islamabad from Mianwali within two hours, almost halving the time of the journey. The local transport of Mianwali has come completely on this road. Traffic from Khushab, Sargodha, Bhakkar, Multan, Layya and Muzaffargarh is also going to Rawalpindi, Islamabad via the same route, which has caused an immense increase in traffic.

All of this traffic passes through the center of Mianwali, causing citizens to grow worried about the increase in accidents. Eminent personality Haji Sheikh Shafi demanded the immediate closure of heavy traffic and vehicles.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2022.