ISLAMABAD, RAWALPINDI: Tragedy struck on Monday as a passenger bus travelling from Bahawalpur to Islamabad overturned on the M-14 Motorway near Fateh Jang, claiming 11 lives and leaving 22 others injured.
Details of the Victims
The deceased include six women and five men, with the injured transported to various hospitals:
- Six injured, including three women, were taken to Benazir Bhutto Hospital.
- Others were transferred to hospitals in Islamabad and the District Headquarter Hospital.
The victims hailed from Bahawalpur, Vehari, Sharaqpur, and Islamabad, according to rescue officials.
Cause of the Accident
The Motorway Police attributed the accident to driver negligence, which led to the bus overturning.
Reactions and Response
- Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed her condolences and prayed for the recovery of the injured.
- Motorway Police Inspector General Riffat Mukhtar ordered an immediate investigation into the incident and directed officials to provide the best possible medical care to the injured.
Pattern of Bus Accidents in Pakistan
Bus accidents remain a frequent occurrence in Pakistan, often due to factors such as driver negligence, poor road conditions, and adverse weather.
Recent Incidents:
- November: A speeding bus carrying wedding guests plunged into the Indus River in Gilgit-Baltistan, killing 14 people.
- September: A bus in Balochistan’s Sherani fell into a ditch, killing six people and injuring 20 others.
- August:
- 25 killed near Pana Bridge when a bus fell into a ditch while travelling from Haveli Kahuta to Rawalpindi.
- Eight killed and seven injured in a collision between a bus and a truck on the Sukkur-Multan motorway.
The recent spate of accidents underscores the urgent need for improved road safety measures, driver training programs, and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations.
