Mind the Gap: 3 killed after bus falls into river

Layyah Fatehpur-bound bus from Karachi fell in the river after a temporary bridge broke.

RAJANPUR:

Three people were killed when a fully loaded bus fell into the River Indus on Monday afternoon.

According to rescue officials, three people including two children died in the incident and ten people were recovered from the bus.

The Layyah Fatehpur-bound bus from Karachi fell in the river after a temporary bridge between Chachraan Sharif and Kot Mithun broke.

“The bridge collapsed during the crossing and we all nearly drowned,” said survivor Majeeda.

The passengers protested against local authorities saying that the bridge should have been repaired years ago but the local administration did not pay any attention to the matter.

Police officials identified the victims as 35-year-old Akbar Khan, his eight-year-old daughter Shadhra and two-year-old daughter Arbiya. Rescue 1122 and police rescued ten people and rescue operations are still underway. Rescue workers said that they expect that at least six people are currently missing.

The injured have been shifted to DHQ hospital and police officials have registered a case.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2012.