Seven killed in Nawabshah bus collision

Two passenger buses collide on Mehran highway

HYDERABAD:

At least seven people died and dozens sustained injuries when two passenger buses collided head on in Shaheed Benazirabad district of Sindh province on Sunday.

The incident took place at Mehran highway near Balochpur stop in Daur taluka of the district which is popularly known as Nawabshah.

One of the vehicles had picked up passengers from Karachi and was bound for Sadiqabad district of Punjab while the Karachi-bound bus was coming from Peshawar.

According to police, the accident happened when one of the buses tried to overtake another vehicle and collided with the bus coming from the opposite direction on a road that lacks a median or a dividing strip.

Heavy vehicles are forbidden on Mehran highway and authorities only issue interprovincial route permits to passenger buses for National Highway, Indus Highway and M9 Motorway.

They said police and rescuers rushed to the accident site immediately and started shifting the dead and the injured to Peoples Medical University Hospital in Shaheed Benazirabad.

The deceased were later identified as Razia Bibi Khan, Gul Agha Khan, Bakht Sher Khan, Darra Bibi Khan, and Ghotki district's residents Abdul Majeed Solangi and Qurban Ali Mirani.

Shaheed Benazirabad Division Commissioner Abbas Baloch visited the hospital and inquired about the health of the injured.

He asked the local authorities to strictly implement the ban on movement of the heavy vehicles on Mehran highway, adding that the volume of traffic is expected to increase on the highway due to Eidul Azha, which will be celebrated from June 29 till June 30.

The commissioner claimed that the hospital is providing complete treatment to the injured. Half a dozen passengers, including a child, are said to be admitted to the intensive care unit. The incident's first information report (FIR) was not lodged till the time of filing of the report.

Sindh Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon expressed regret at the loss of lives, stating that he was shocked by the tragedy.

Memon instructed the district administration to provide all medical facilities to the injured. He also issued instructions to the transport department to take action in collaboration with the Motorway Police to prevent such accidents.

He also sought a report on the accident from the relevant authorities. Strict action will be taken against criminal negligence, he said.