Hub accident victims laid to rest

The bodies of seventeen devotees killed in a devastating road accident on Shah Noorani Road in Hub district of Balochistan, were dispatched to their native village in Thatta on Saturday.

According to reports, a truck, carrying pilgrims from Qasim Jokhio Goth of Makli area in Sindh’s Thatta district, lost control, veered off the road and plunged into a ditch along the Veerab River near Noorani Cross in Hub on Wednesday, resulting in the tragic accident.

The victims, who had pooled resources to hire the truck for a pilgrimage to the Shah Noorani shrine on Eidul Fitr, met with the accident at around 8 pm. At least 40 devotees were also injured in the accident.
Saad Edhi of the Edhi Foundation stated that they were informed about the tragedy at 11pm on Wednesday. He said they immediately sent rescue teams to the scene. Despite the challenges, the rescue operation was completed, with victims extricated from the wreckage within two hours.

SHO Makli police station SI Shaukat, and the DSP Makli, reached the crash site soon after receiving the news. The injured were initially taken to Ghulam Qadir Hospital in Hub, with the more serious cases transferred to the Civil Hospital Karachi for further medical attention.

The bodies of the deceased were brought to the Edhi Mortuary in Karachi, where they were given baths and shrouds according to Islamic teachings before being sent to their native area of Qasim Jokhio Goth in Thatta for burial.

Sardar Zulfiqar Jokhio of Qasim Jokhio Goth confirmed that the truck driver, who sustained minor injuries, was taken into custody by Hub police following medical treatment. He said most of the victims were hard-working labourers. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to identify two victims.