Harrowing incident: Electrocuted bus victims fight for their lives at burns ward

Man cannot attend wife's funeral because he must stay with his injured son at the hospital.

KARACHI: Of the six patients brought to Karachi in the aftermath of the wedding bus accident in Dadu, four are in critical condition. One of the injured, a 10-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries on Monday night.

The latest victim, 10-year-old Kodo, who had burns on 27 per cent of the body, succumbed to his wounds at the Civil Hospital, Karachi's burns ward. The other patients, seven-year-old Khalida Khatoon, daughter of Nazeer Hussain, has suffered 53 per cent burns, nine-year-old Hussain Ali, son of Muhammad Budhal has 35 per cent burns, six-year-old Shahzeb, son of Muhammad Azam, has 43 per cent burns, while Khatoo, wife of Khadim Hussain, has 52 per cent burns.

According to the ward's assistant medical superintendent, Dr Abdul Haq, all the patients, except 11-year-old Wajid Hussain who has suffered 14 per cent burns, are in critical condition. He said that the doctors and technical staff at the hospital were trying to provide the best treatment facilities to the patients.

Tales of despair

Azam's only son is in critical condition. "My wife died in the accident but I could not even attend her funeral," he said. All the victims belonged to the Babbur tribe. Azam lost three nieces, a nephew and a cousin. "Five of my family members died on the spot," he said, choking on the words as tears flowed down his cheeks.

"Nearly his entire body is burnt except his face. Only prayers can save my son," said Azam. One of his nieces, 10-year-old Parveen, is admitted at Larkana's hospital. Her condition is stable.

Khalid's mother and brother, Wajid, are admitted in the ICU. "I don't know whether she will make it," he said morosely. Khalid said that most of female members of his family have died or were admitted to the medical facility in Larkana. "It has been difficult to look after my mother alone. The men of the family are busy in the funerals," he added.

Witness accounts

Gulzar was one of the three people sitting on the rooftop of the bus along with half-a-dozen children. He said the driver stopped the bus and fled. "I saw a minor boy stand up and try to push the wire up but he couldn't manage it," he narrated. "I saw him dying in front of my eyes."

Gulzar barely managed to jump off the bus. His attempts to save his family members were futile. "I saw my minor sister, Khalida, among the injured." He brought Khalida to Khairpur Nathan Shah from where she was taken to Larkana and ultimately shifted to Karachi in critical condition.

Gulzar believes the driver could have saved all the passengers if he had reversed or moved the bus with greater speed. "There was only one door in the bus so it was difficult for the trapped women and children to get out," he added.

The victims' family claims the lack of medical facilities in Dadu and its adjacent cities made the situation worse. They are not even sure how many people died in the accident.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2015.