Criminal: Nine killed as trailer rams into van

Most of the deceased were heading home to Pindi Gheb from Rawalpindi.

JAND: At least nine people were killed and three others injured in a collision between a passenger van and a 22-wheeler at Mithial Chowk on Pindi-Kohat Road in Jand, according to Edhi officials.

The incident took place when the 22-wheeler truck (TLS 1003) rammed into a passenger van killing many passengers including women and children on the spot.

Three men, three women, two children are among the deceased, rescue sources said, adding that most of the victims were from Pindi Gheb and were travelling towards Pindi Gheb in a Toyota Hiace from Misrial Road area of Rawalpindi.

Following the incident, Edhi ambulances reached the spot and shifted the deceased and injured to the government hospitals in Jand and Pindi Gheb. However, two of the injured were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi owing to their serious condition. The third injured was released from the hospital after treatment as he suffered minor injuries.

The driver of the van, Muhammad Arshad, Qasim Khan, a resident of Pindi Gheb, Sadiq, a resident of Akhlaq Village, Arshad, a resident of Mithial, children Dost Muhammad and Asmam, Gohar Ali, Gulab Khan and Bano are among the deceased identified by authorities.

Raja Rizwan and Yaqoob, residents of Pindi Gheb, were shifted to Rawalpindi with serious injuries. The Edhi official said the passenger van was parked at a roadside when the 22-wheeler rammed into it due to speeding.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2015.