Oct saw 336 lives lost in road mishaps

A total of 336 people lost their lives in 43,197 road traffic accidents (RTCs) across Punjab in October, according to data shared during the Punjab Emergency Services Department's (ESD) monthly performance review.

Lahore witnessed the highest number of crashes, with 8,889 incidents leading to 29 fatalities, while Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, and Sheikhupura reported significant accident figures as well. The data, presented by Secretary ESD Dr. Rizwan Naseer, highlighted that Punjab Emergency Services (Rescue 1122) responded to 196,509 emergency incidents in October, rescuing 189,149 people.

Emergency response teams maintained an average response time of 8 minutes by ambulance and 4 minutes by motorbike units in urban areas. The Fire Service responded to 1,758 fire incidents, averting losses worth Rs3.3 billion, and also rescued 1,140 animals.

The meeting, held at the Emergency Services Headquarters, included Dr Naseer and representatives from district and regional emergency teams.

He expressed serious concern over the high number of incidents, which included 983 electrocutions, 65 drowning cases, and 47 structural collapses. Of the emergencies responded to in October, 128,272 were medical, 43,197 were RTCs, 4,101 involved crime, 4,863 were falls or slips were childbirth-related.