Speeding bus overturns

BAHAWALPUR: Eight people died, while 39 sustained severe injuries as a speeding bus overturned near Rama Railway Crossing on Ahmadpur Road on Wednesday night.

According to the rescue officials and medical attendants at Bahawalpur Victoria Hospital, a bus over turned due to over speeding late Wednesday night. As a result, six people died on the spot and 41 were severely injured. Rescue 1122 teams reached the site of incident and rushed the injured to hospital where two of them succumbed to their injuries. “When the crash victims reached the hospital two more patients expired,” Dr Shahukh said. Five of those injured were stated to be in critical condition while 15 were discharged after being administered first aid. The deceased have been identified as Ali Abbas, Shakil Hussain,Khadim Hussain, Muhammad Younus, Ahmad Yar, Muhammad Afzal, Latif and bus conductor Haji while injured include Shahzad Ali, Muhammad Ali, Faiz Ahmad, Ayaz Hussain, Akhtar Ali, Muhammad Ejaz and others.

Rescue officials said that funeral services for the deceased would be held within days and  the bodies had been handed over to the families. “The accident most probably occurred due to a large crater in the road owing to the recent floods,” rescue officials said, adding that the bus had been over speeding and over turned suddenly.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2010.