City gridlocked as tanker tragedy leaves one dead

Angry crowd torches tanker after crash; burning vehicle rolls onto flyover, causing traffic snarl-up on Rashid Minhas

KARACHI:

A fatal road accident involving a water tanker sparked dramatic scenes and hours-long traffic chaos in the city on Tuesday after an enraged crowd set the vehicle on fire following the death of a young motorcyclist near Gulistan-e-Jauhar Flyover. The burning tanker then rolled forward on its own before crashing into the flyover's safety railing.

According to police and rescue officials, the water tanker ran over a motorcycle, killing one rider on the spot and injuring another. The impact was so severe that the deceased sustained fatal head injuries.

The tanker driver fled the scene immediately after the accident.

Rescue officials shifted the victim's body and the injured man to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) in a Chhipa ambulance. The deceased was identified as 22-year-old Muhammad Akram, while the injured, 30-year-old Abdul Shakoor, was admitted for treatment.

The fatal accident triggered an angry reaction from bystanders, who vandalised the tanker before setting its cabin ablaze. As flames engulfed the vehicle, it unexpectedly began moving on its own, climbed onto the flyover and continued for some distance before coming to a halt after crashing into the flyover's railing.

Police reached the scene shortly after the incident, while firefighters, responding to reports of the blaze, were delayed after becoming trapped in the severe traffic congestion caused by the accident.

The fire was eventually brought under control, and police later removed the charred tanker to the local police station.

The incident brought traffic to a standstill on both carriageways of Rashid Minhas Road, with long queues of vehicles stretching from the Nipa intersection towards the Gulistan-e-Jauhar Flyover and from the Drigh Road Flyover towards Nipa. Traffic police remained on site for several hours to restore the flow of vehicles.

Police have launched an investigation into the accident and efforts are underway to trace and arrest the absconding tanker driver.