Five tankers burnt in a row

Angry citizens lose patience as road crash involving truck claims one more life

KARACHI:

A motorcyclist, identified as 35-year-old Gulshan Rashid, died in a traffic accident on the road leading from Jail Chowrangi Flyover to Hassan Square soon after midnight on Tuesday. After the accident, angry people present at the scene damaged water tankers by pelting stones and unknown persons set five water tankers on fire.

As soon as the fire was reported, Rescue 1122 and KMC fire brigade personnel reached the scene with four fire engines and after a hard struggle, they doused the flames.

According to Rescue 1122, the front part of one water tanker was completely burnt in the fire, while the other four water tankers were partially damaged.

The driver and cleaner of the water tanker present at the scene, who were also eyewitnesses to the incident, have stated that the accident occurred due to a collision with a dumper, which the police caught along with the driver after a chase and shifted to the police station. People set our water tankers on fire without any reason, while we were not at fault.

Police have caught a dumper and taken two people, Ismail and Inamullah, into custody, while the motorcyclist died in the collision with the dumper. Unknown people have set five water tankers on fire, which is being investigated further.

Talking to the media outside the New Town police station, officials of the Dumper Association said that emergency numbers are being installed on dumpers and water tankers to prevent accidents, which can be contacted to register a complaint regarding the reckless driving.

Meanwhile, the office bearers of the Dumper Association said that it has not yet been established that the accident occurred with the same dumper, but further investigation is under way.

They said that the dumper that the police have seized has no connection with the accident.

After the water tankers were set on fire, the statement of an eyewitness present at the scene also came to light that the accident occurred due to a collision with the dumper and the tankers were burned for no reason.