Murree bus crash claims five lives

Over a dozen hurt as passenger bus plunges into ravine at Murree-Galiyat junction

MURREE:

Five people were killed and 13 others were injured after a passenger bus plunged into a ravine near Lower Barian, Liran Tain, at the junction of Murree and Galiyat in Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday, witnesses and rescuers said. The bus reportedly went out of control and plunged into the deep ravine.

Three of the injured passengers are said to be in critical condition.

Those killed included 65-year-old Ghulam Raza, a resident of Mohra Sharif, a 10-year-old girl, daughter of Rustam, and 45-year-old Yasmeen, a resident of Chabgran.

The injured included 26-year-old Kiran, three-year-old Muqaddas, two-year-old Iqra, 50-year-old Raeesa Bibi, 65-year-old Shahida Bibi and 35-year-old Imran. More than 20 passengers were travelling on the bus.

According to the injured passengers, the accident occurred allegedly due to the driver's negligence and carelessness.

The injured passengers were shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Murree.

A 10-year-old girl later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital, while those critically injured were shifted to Benazir Bhutto General Hospital, Rawalpindi.

The remaining injured passengers were receiving treatment at the THQ Hospital, Murree.

Women and children constituted a significant number of those killed and injured. Two young sisters from the same family were among those killed, while their mother and brother sustained serious injuries.

According to the injured passengers, the bus suddenly went out of control before plunging into the ravine.

The accident site fell within the jurisdiction of K-P; however, Rescue 1122 Murree also took part in the relief operation and assisted in retrieving the injured and bodies from the ravine.

Relatives of the victims urged the K-P government to conduct a transparent and impartial investigation, determine those responsible for the accident, and take legal action against anyone found guilty of negligence.