Five of a family perish in Khanewal crash

KHANEWAL:

A tragic road accident in Khanewal's Tehsil Jahanian claimed the lives of five members of the same family and left three others seriously injured when a truck loaded with poultry feed overturned onto a rickshaw.

The family was traveling from Multan to Tibba Sultan Pur to attend a wedding when the accident occurred.

According to police and rescue officials, the collision took place near Adda 14-Pul on a road under construction. The rickshaw was parked along the roadside when the speeding truck, attempting to pass, lost balance due to uneven terrain and overturned, crushing the rickshaw beneath its weight. Rescue 1122 officials confirmed that Aasia Bibi (45), wife of Amir; Noor (5), daughter of Manzoor; Hoorain (4), daughter of Manzoor; Kinza (10), daughter of Manzoor; and Halima (3), daughter of Manzoor died on the spot. Their bodies were retrieved from the mangled rickshaw after a lengthy operation.

Three others - Sheikhana Mai (wife of Manzoor), Muhammad Khan (son of Manzoor), and Mukhtar Ahmad - sustained serious injuries and were shifted to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Jahanian for medical treatment.

Station House Officer (SHO) Sarfraz Ahmad said the family had parked the rickshaw along the roadside due to the under-construction condition of the highway when the heavily loaded truck lost control while crossing a pothole and overturned. Both the truck driver and rickshaw driver fled the scene immediately after the crash.

Police have seized both vehicles and registered a case against the truck driver. An investigation is underway to trace and arrest those responsible.