Road tragedies: 14 killed in fatal bus accidents

The deadliest crash took place in Murree where two Rawalpindi-bound buses plunged into a ravine.

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD:

At least 14 people died and 20 others sustained injuries in two separate road accidents in Murree and Islamabad on Wednesday, rescue and police sources told The Express Tribune.

The first accident took place some 30 kilometres away from the federal capital at Salgran area of Murree, where two buses – on their way from Murree to Rawalpindi – fell into a ravine.

“Twelve to 15 people are feared dead,” said Chief Traffic Officer Ishtiaq Shah. Earlier, in-charge of rescue operation Dr Rizwan had put the death toll at 10 as he had told The Express Tribune that the injured, 20 in number, were in critical condition.



However, rescue and police officials had confirmed 12 deaths till the filing of this report. Locals and eyewitnesses believed the death toll could be much higher.

Police said the two buses fell into the ravine after colliding with each other. According to local people, the vehicles were in bad condition and were racing with each other.

Despite rain and harsh weather, rescue teams had started retrieving the injured and the dead bodies with the help of local people and shifted them to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of the accident and directed the authorities to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within three days.

The second incident

Meanwhile a teenager and a 62-year-old man died in another bus accident on Murree Road near the Islamabad Club on Wednesday.

According to police, the passenger bus had left Rawalpindi for Lora, Abbottabad and was heading towards the Rawal Dam when the driver lost its control and rammed it into a traffic island.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2014.