Six killed as bus plunges into gorge

At least six persons were killed and 38 others -—including women and children — injured when a passenger bus plunged into a gorge near Chakri Interchange on Motorway M-2. The accident was reportedly caused by speeding on slippery roads amid rainy weather.

According to details, a passenger bus carrying 43 passengers was heading to Multan from Rawalpindi; however, when it was near Chakri Interchange on Motorway M-2, the driver lost control of the vehicle due to slippery road and the ill-fated bus fell into a ravine.

Five people died on the spot, while 38 others were injured and shifted to hospital. Later, one of the injured women succumbed to her injuries. Among the injured are women, children and the elderly. The condition of six injured is stated to be critical.

Upon receiving information, Motorway Police, Rescue 1122, and other relief agencies rushed to the scene, provided first aid to the injured, and shifted them to hospitals.

Some injured passengers claimed the driver was speeding despite slippery road conditions, which led to the tragic accident.

One woman passenger said the bus was overcrowded and moving at high speed, which caused the crash.

According to Rescue 1122 and Motorway Police officials, five passengers died on the spot and 38 were injured in the accident. Among the injured, 23 were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital, Chakwal, 8 to PIMS and 7 to District Headquarters Hospital, Rawalpindi, while four bodies were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital, Rawalpindi and one to District Headquarters Hospital, Chakwal. Later, one of the injured women, namely Irum Batool, succumbed to her injuries at the hospital, taking the death toll to six.

The dead are identified as Erum Batool, Zafar Iqbal from Vihari, Samina Nasir from Mian Chunnu, Murag Faheem from Wah Cantt, Navida Nahid from Pir Mahal and Ashraf.