Road tragedy in Hub: 38 perish in nasty pileup

Bus, truck carrying illegal Iranian diesel explode on collision; bodies burned.

QUETTA/ KARACHI:

A huge fireball shot through the early morning sky over the Gadani area of Hub on Saturday when two trucks collided with two passenger buses, burning to death at least 38 people, including several women and children.

A passenger bus first rammed into a truck, and seconds later, another truck behind them crashed in a pile-up, followed by a second passenger coach.

The first collision caused a huge explosion because both the Karachi-bound bus coming from Turbat and the truck were carrying thousands of litres of diesel. The blast triggered a fire that swept through the bus and left all its passengers dead. All the bodies were burned and charred beyond recognition.

According to the Road Traffic Injury Research and Prevention Centre, the geometric location of the accident site and a 99ft pothole caused the accident. There is an S-shaped curve where the road takes a downhill turn, explains the report. “The truck coming from Turbat lost control after it hit the pothole in the road and overturned, spilling its oil. At this moment, the bus (also carrying oil) behind the truck hit it and a huge fireball explosion occurred.” Another truck and passenger coach speeding behind them also crashed into the pile-up.

However, District Police Officer (DPO) Ahmed Nawaz Cheema’s account was different. “The passenger bus tried to overtake a vehicle and collided with the truck coming from the opposite direction. And there was a huge explosion after the collision as the bus was carrying oil,” he told The Express Tribune. Another passenger bus coming to Karachi from Quetta followed by another truck collided with the two burning vehicles, killing two passengers in the second accident.

According to Sher Ali, a worker of Azad Dasht Transport Company that owned the Turbat to Karachi bus, said the vehicle had 38 passengers onboard. “All the 38 passengers, including the driver and the cleaner, died in the incident,” he said. “Women and children are among the dead.”

Deputy Commissioner Amir Sultan confirmed the 38 deaths. “I do not think anyone escaped, or is alive on board that fateful bus.”  A rescue worker explained that the incident took place around 5 am Saturday morning. “We have moved some bodies to Jam Ghulam Qadir Hospital, Lasbela. All bodies are blackened and bones are visible,” he said.

DPO Lasbela Amir Sultan confirmed that the bus was carrying Iranian diesel which led to the explosion. He said investigations are under way.

The injured were taken to Civil Hospital, Karachi, as the state-run hospital in Hub lacked treatment facilities for burn victims.

Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch ordered an inquiry into the incident. “It is a tragic accident and I extend my grief and sorrow to the bereaved families,” he said in a statement.

Several families rushed to Civil hospital and the Jam Ghulam Qadir Hospital, Hub, to find their loved ones. “The deceased were either residents of Lyari or Turbat,” Rezwan Ali, the accountant of Azad Dasht Transport Company, told The Express Tribune.

Deputy Commissioner Amir Sultan said the DNA tests may help to identify the bodies.

A passenger’s relative said buses  from a town bordering Iran often carry illegal Iranian fuel. “One bus usually carries thousands of litres of illegal Iranian oil and smuggles it to Karachi,” said Ghulam Ali.

There are hundreds of check posts set up by the Frontier Corps (FC), Balochistan Levies and the police on the way to Karachi from Kech district but buses easily cross these check posts and smuggle illegal fuel.


Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2014.