Near Muzaffarabad: 16 killed as bus falls off bridge

While 13 died on spot three sucumbed to injuries on way to hospital.

MUZAFFARABAD:

At least 16 people were killed and 38 others injured in a road accident in Poona some 220 kilometers from Muzaffarabad. According to the police, a speeding passenger bus fell into a nullah at 10.30 am while crossing a bridge near Poona Samhani in district Bhimber on Monday. A woman and two children aged 10 years were among the injured.

President Mamnoon Hussain expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident and issued a message praying for the early recovery of the injured.

Rescue teams led by Bhimbher Deputy Commissioner Sardar Adnan Khursheed and Superintendent (SP) Police Chaudhry Ghulam Akbar rushed to the spot.  While 13 people were killed on the spot, three passengers succumbed to their injuries en route to Samhani Hospital. SP Akbar told The Express Tribune that 38 injured people have been shifted to hospitals in Samhani, Bhimber and Mirpur.

Those who were killed in the accident were identified as Azhar Mahmood, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Rasab Hussain, Muhammad Rehan, Muhammad Qurban, Zeshan Ahmad, Fazl Karim, Zareena Begum, Muhammad Azeem, Hameed Chaudrhy, Muhammad Din, Hamaad, Saeed Aga and Safdar Iqbal.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd, 2014.