Number of deaths in Rahim Yar Khan road accident reaches 13

RAHIM YAR KHAN/LAHORE, Feb 25 (SABAH): At least 13 people were killed and more than 20 injured due to a traffic accident on the Multan-Sukkur Motorway (M-5) near Thul Khair Muhammad sub-district Khan Pur in district Rahim Yar Khan at on Friday night.

The killed persons have been identified as Muzammal Iqbal son of Muhammad Iqbal, resident of Faisalabad, Abu Sufiyan son of Muhammad Boota, resident of Gujranwala, Fazal Elhai son of Allah Ditta, resident of Faisalabad, Mulazam Hussain, resident of Faisalabad, Asad son of Tanveer, resident of Faisalabad, Ayyub son of Musa, resident of Adam Arain, Karam Hussain son of Issa, resident of Thul Khair Muhammad, Ashraf aka Bhuri son of Haji, resident of Thul Hassan, Muhammad Shoaib so of Muhammad Liaquat, resident of Faisalabad, Mubarak son of Syed Shah, resident of Jhang, Bhola son of Saeed Lal, resident of Quetta and Noor. 

The tragedy occurred as a speeding jeep rammed into two other vehicles on the highway near Rahim Yar Khan.

District Police Officer Rizwan Umar Gondal told media that at least 13 people lost their lives while 14 of the injured were in critical condition and being treated at Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan.

He said that a van overturned on the highway after one of its tyres burst.

 “Witnessing a stranded vehicle on the motorway, a bus coming from behind stopped while its passengers disembarked from the vehicle to help other fellow passengers.”

As the bus travelers were assisting the van passengers, a speeding jeep smashed into the bus, resulting in the deaths and injuries.

The official said the police were investigating the causes of the accident.

According to rescue sources, the death toll may rise further as several injured people are in a critical condition.

Meanwhile Caretaker Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi expressed a deep sense of sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives in a traffic accident in Rahim Yar Khan. He expressed his heartfelt sympathy with the families of the deceased and directed the administration to provide best possible treatment to the injured and sought a report about the accident.