Two Elite force officials were killed and three others injured after a speeding police vehicle chasing suspected criminals slid into a canal amidst smog.
The driver lost control over the vehicle at the Rojhanwali turning.
Havildar Muhammad Kashif and Constable Rizwan Shaukat were martyred, while Constables Abdullah Tariq, Mehmood, and Majid suffered injuries.
The injured personnel were shifted to the district headquarters hospital, where doctors referred one of them to Bahawalpur because of his critical condition.
Punjab Inspector General of Police paied tribute to the personnel who had sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. He expressed condolences for the families of Head Constable Muhammad Kashif and Driver Constable Rizwan Shaukat. He issued directives the provision of the best treatment facilities to the injured officials and instructed the Bahawalnagar district police officer to immediately contact the families of the martyrs.
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The funeral prayers for the two martyred officials were offered at the Police Lines and attended by a large number of political, social, administrative and police officers, as well as members of the civil society.
The bodies were later sent to the native areas of the deceased for burial.
A rescue team retrieved the vehicle and weapons from the canal.
District Rescue Officer Rao Sharafat Ali said while speaking to The Express Tribune that a bridge at Rojhanwali Mor had apparently been poorly planned, leading to frequent accidents at the spot.
Reflectors installed by the rescue department at the bridge earlier had fallen off over time.
A local resident said the highway department should install warning signboards and reflectors to prevent accidents on the unsafe bridge that lacked a wall.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2023.
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