13 perish in Kallar Kahar road tragedy

A passenger bus, en route from Islamabad to Lahore, suffered brake failure due to excessive speed

ISLAMABAD:

At least thirteen people including women and children died on Saturday when a passenger bus lost control and overturned on the Lahore-Islamabad motorway some 130km from the federal capital.

According to the Motorway Police spokesperson, the Lahore bound passenger bus—belonging to the Shalimar Company—was passing through the famous Kallar Kahar salt range when its brakes failed. The accident took place near Booth No 224 on the Lahore-Islamabad motorway.

The bus—bearing number BSG-055—lost control, crashed into the maiden strip that separates opposing lanes of traffic and then overturned, the spokesperson said. He said a heavy contingent of the Motorway Police personnel reached the spot soon after the incident and started a rescue operation.

“The dead and the injured were immediately shifted to the trauma centre in Kallar Kahar. Thirteen people died in the accident while as many sustained serious injuries. The dead include four women and three children,” he added.

He said two lanes of the motorway were closed during the rescue operation but one lane was open for traffic. The dead and the injured belonged to different areas, the spokesperson added.