Shahbaz Qalandar Urs: 17 devotees die on first day of Urs celebrations

SUKKUR/ HYDERABAD:

Sweltering heat and a road crash claimed the lives of 17 people in Sehwan town of Sindh, as the annual Urs celebrations of 13th century Sufi saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar began on Saturday.

At least 10 people fell prey to the temperatures, as the mercury surged to 44 degrees celsius in the small town located in the foothills of Khirthar mountains, some 146 kilometres off Hyderabad.

Another five died on the Indus Highway’s 136km stretch between Jamshoro and Sehwan when two cars crashed into each other. Two more bodies were brought to the Sehwan taluka hospital whose identities could not be ascertained.

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah confirmed 11 deaths while talking to the media in Mirpurkhas district. He said an inquiry has been ordered into the deaths as well. “The inquiry committee will submit its report within three days and we will take action if official negligence is established,” he added.

Mairaj, Edhi Foundation’s regional in-charge, confirmed 10 deaths and identified eight of the victims as Noor Khatoon, 50, Javed, 45, Amjad, 46, Sabir Hussain, 40, Muhammad Sharif, 80, Muhammad Anwar, 35, Fakeer Hussain, 70, and Muhammad Nawaz Marri, 36.

Fatal crash

A road accident between a high-roof van and a car left five passengers, including two policemen, dead and six others injured. The car also caught fire after the accident which was doused by the people nearby.

Both the vehicles were carrying passengers from Karachi. The high-roof was returning from Sehwan while the car, carrying four policemen from Karachi, was on its way to the town when the accident took place around 50 kilometres away from Jamshoro.

The single carriageway between Jamshoro and Sehwan is notorious for accidents due to its sharp curves.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2015.