What Happened in the Tragic Road Accident in Karachi?

Islamabad, Aug 10 (NationPress) A devastating road incident involving a dumper lorry transpired early Sunday on Karachi’s Rashid Minhas Road adjacent to Lucky One Mall, leading to the tragic loss of two young siblings and leaving their father injured. This unfortunate event ignited protests and mob unrest, resulting in significant disruption across various major city roads, as reported by officials.

Karachi has seen a recent uptick in road accidents, especially those involving heavy vehicles like dumpers and water tankers. Hospital records indicate that nearly 500 fatalities and 4,879 injuries have been documented in such incidents throughout 2024.

Zeeshan Shafiq Siddiqi, the Central Senior Superintendent of Police in Karachi, stated that at around 3:15 AM, a dumper collided with a motorcycle carrying a family, tragically claiming the lives of 22-year-old Mahnoor and her 14-year-old brother Ahmed Raza. Their 48-year-old father, Shakir, sustained injuries during the incident.

In the aftermath, transport workers initiated a protest, obstructing Rashid Minhas Road and the Superhighway near Sohrab Goth, which led to severe traffic delays.

Roads leading to and from Rashid Minhas Road, spanning from Sohrab Goth to Gulshan-i-Iqbal, were closed. Likewise, traffic at Al-Asif Square came to a halt in both directions towards the city and Hyderabad.

“A mob gathered and set fire to a total of seven dumpers on both sides of the road within the jurisdictions of Yusuf Plaza and Federal B Area police stations,” Pakistani media outlet Dawn reported, quoting SSP Siddiqi.

“Law enforcement arrived on the scene to detain the driver and impound the dumper,” he added.

Siddiqi further disclosed that police cordoned off the area, established diversions, and summoned fire brigade units to extinguish the flames.

Authorities reportedly apprehended 14 suspects for their involvement in the arson, as mentioned by Siddiqi.

Moreover, local media indicated that further arrests were being executed with the assistance of video and technical surveillance.

Police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed informed that the deceased siblings were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where they were pronounced dead, while their father survived with injuries. Family members noted that the female victim was on the verge of marriage.

Dr. Syed also reported that two lorry drivers were brought in with serious injuries following mob attacks. One driver, believed to be responsible for the accident, is in critical but stable condition, while another driver, whose dumper was also torched, has sustained severe head injuries.

Hassaan Ul Haseeb Khan, spokesperson for Rescue 1122, confirmed that seven dumpers were set ablaze near Lucky One Mall in Gulshan-i-Iqbal. He noted that fire brigade teams succeeded in controlling the fire, although the vehicles were severely damaged in the arson.

A high-speed trailer lorry crashed in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA), injuring two others earlier this month.

In another incident in July, a 59-year-old milk vendor lost his life when a dumper ran over his motorcycle in Karachi’s Saudabad area.