Staff Reporter
Five persons died and 21 others sustained multiple injuries when a speeding passengers bus overturned here on Tuesday.
According to rescuers and police, the accident occurred near Shahra-e-Al Jihad Check post on National Highway in Okara Cantt area.
The rescuers informed that the passengers bus was on the way to Fort Abbas in Bahawalnagar from Lahore.
Near Al Jihad Check-Post, the bus overturned after one of its tyres burst and fell over a motorcycle.
Resultantly, the motorcyclist and four passengers of the bus including a woman died on the spot while 21 others including three women sustained multiple injuries.
The rescuers claimed that the passengers-packed bus was overturned due to speeding as the driver could not hold control of the vehicle after one of its tyres burst.
According to rescue officials, seven ambulances of Rescue 1122 reached the spot and provided prompt medical aid to the injured.
They shifted three of the injured and dead bodies to CM Cantt Hospital while 17 injured were admitted to DHQ City Hospital.
The rescue officials feared that the death toll can rise as condition of some of the injured persons is critical.
Police officials said that two of the deceased persons – student Mughal and Imran Nazir belonged to Fort Abbas.
The woman who died in the accident belonged to Faqir Wali, Chak 142 of Bahawalnagar.
= They informed that most of the passengers were going to Fort Abbas to celebrate Eid with their families.
It is to be mention here that a gruesome accident had occurred in Taunsa Sharif area of DG Khan on Monday, which claimed 25 precious lives. Dozen others also injured in the accident that took place due to overloading and speeding.
The road accidents are common on highways and motorways mainly due to non-implementation of traffic by-laws and speeding.
Although, the motorway police is known for its strict implementation of laws, the government would have to adopt more pragmatic approach to minimise the rise number of road accidents.
