How did two separate road accidents claim 23 lives across Pakistan?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 23 individuals lost their lives in two separate accidents.
- Overspeeding and poor visibility were main contributing factors.
- Authorities are calling for better road safety measures.
- Rescue operations were conducted promptly.
- The incidents have raised concerns about traffic regulations in Pakistan.
Islamabad, Jan 17 (NationPress) - A tragic turn of events unfolded as 23 individuals lost their lives and many more sustained injuries in two horrific road accidents on Saturday, underscoring persistent issues surrounding road safety, excessive speed, and poor visibility throughout Pakistan.
In the first incident, nine people tragically died while 36 others were injured when a passenger coach overturned on the Makran Coastal Highway near Gwadar in Balochistan, according to local media.
Authorities revealed that the accident occurred near the Hudd Goth area of Ormara when a coach bound for Karachi, coming from Jiwani, lost control and flipped over. The vehicle was owned by the private transport company, Al Usman.
Initial investigations by the Coastal Highway police pointed to overspeeding as the primary cause of the accident. Superintendent of Police Aslam Bangulzai indicated that the driver was unable to manage the vehicle due to excessive speed, culminating in this deadly incident. Rescue teams promptly arrived at the location, transporting both the injured and deceased to Ormara Tehsil Hospital.
Hospital officials confirmed that multiple injured passengers were in critical condition, raising concerns that the death toll might increase.
Police are conducting further inquiries and gathering more information regarding the driver and the transport company.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti expressed profound grief over the loss of life and extended condolences to the affected families. He instructed the Gwadar deputy commissioner to ensure top-notch medical care for the injured and ordered ambulance services to deliver the deceased to their hometowns.
In another heartbreaking incident in the Sargodha district of Punjab, at least 14 individuals lost their lives when a mini-truck plunged into a dry canal amid thick fog. This occurred near Ghalapur Bangla in Kot Momin tehsil, where the extremely low visibility caused the vehicle to veer off course.
Rescue personnel reported that seven people died instantly, while another seven succumbed to their injuries during treatment at nearby medical facilities.
At the time of the accident, 23 passengers were aboard the truck, traveling from Islamabad to Faisalabad to attend a funeral. The driver opted for a local route due to motorway closures caused by fog. The deceased included women and children, all from Islamabad.
Rescue teams conducted relief efforts and transported the bodies and injured individuals to THQ Hospital, while authorities reiterated the importance of exercising caution during adverse weather conditions and enforcing traffic safety regulations.