Speeding thrills but kills: Three perish, 12 hurt as van falls into ravine

The driver of the Pindi-bound vehicle lost control of the steering due to speeding: SHO.

MURREE:

At least three people were killed and 12 injured when a passenger wagon fell into a deep ravine in the hilly resort, Murree, on Tuesday morning.

According to the Rescue 1122 sources, the passenger wagon (RIR-7899) was on its way to Rawalpindi from Murree when it fell into a deep ravine in Company Bagh area near Siratul Jannah Masjid, Murree.

The accident occurred at around 9:30am when the driver of the van with 18 passengers aboard reportedly lost control of the steering and the vehicle plunged into a deep ravine which resulted in the death of three passengers, including a 25-year-old woman.

The deceased were identified as Khurshid Hussain, 45, Ibrar Hussain, 29, and Mayram Bibi. All of them were from Murree. The Rescue 1122 sources said that the three passengers died on the spot due to head injuries.

Soon after the incident, the locals reached the spot, followed by the police and rescue teams. The bodies were shifted to the Civil Hospital and Combined Military Hospital, Murree.

The Rescue 1122 sources told The Express Tribune that three out of the 12 injured passengers were shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) who were stated to be in critical condition.

This was the second such accident at the same spot in one year. A man lost his life and 17 others were injured in a similar accident on September 13 last year.

When contacted, Murree police in-charge Malik Rafaqat confirmed the death of three persons.

“The incident happened due to over speeding,” he said.

Malik said that the driver of the van had escaped from the site. “However the police would arrest him soon, since he belongs to Murree,” he added. Negating the claims of rescue sources, Malik said that only one injured, who is in critical condition, was shifted to Pims.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2011.