At least 20 burnt alive, 15 injured in horrific collision on Faisalabad Motorway near Pindi Bhattian
HAFIZABAD/ISLAMABAD, August 20 (SABAH): At least 20 people, including women and children, were burnt to death while 15 others sustained injuries in a collision between a passenger bus and a pick up carrying diesel barrels on Faisalabad Motorway near Pindi Bhattian sub-district of Hafizabad before dawn on Sunday.
The accident occurred reportedly due to the driver of the passenger bus “falling asleep” on the steering and losing control of the vehicle.
Meanwhile, Hafizabad DSP Ehsan Zafar said that the passenger bus crashed into a vehicle carrying diesel. The former exploded on impact and was reduced to ashes, he said, adding that the accident occurred at around 4:30 AM and flames were extinguished after an hour-long effort.
A passenger who survived the fatal crash said that the bus driver had changed in Rahim Yar Khan while petrol started leaking from the vehicle near the Toll Plaza on Pindi Bhattian M3.
The deceased and injured were being identified by the time of the filing of this report.
According to Hafizabad DPO Dr Fahad, 15 of the deceased have been shifted to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.
At least eight of the injured have also been shifted there, said Health CEO Dr. Umar Rathore.
The injured identified thus far include 26 years old Umar resident of Faisalabad, Aaliya 25, Imdad, 18, Sajid, 25, Sabir, 39, Nazar, 34, Abira, 10, Masifa, 14, Zeeshan, 20, and Usman, 15 years old.
Rescue officials said that their teams reached the site within five minutes of receiving the news.
Among those killed in the accident were six members of the same family, said rescue 1122 officials, adding that passengers hailing from Karachi, Khairpur, Faisalabad, Jalalpur Bhattian and Pindi Bhattian were on the bus.
Drivers of both the vehicles were also been killed in the crash. The bus, carrying about 40 passengers, was going to Islamabad from Karachi, said rescue officials.
The injured have been admitted to Pindi Bhattian Hospital. The fire engulfed the bus shortly after the collision, according to the District Police Officer Dr Fahad.
He said most of the injured were in critical condition. Eyewitnesses said people from nearby area tried to pull the passengers out of the burning bus by smashing windows.
President Dr. Arif Alvi has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious human lives in a bus accident near Pindi Bhattian.
In his condolence message, he expressed sympathies with the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
The President also prayed the Allah Almighty to grant departed souls higher ranks in heaven.
Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi has expressed sorrow over the accident of passenger coach near Pindi Bhattian coming from Karachi to Islamabad. In his condolence message, he stressed the need to determine the reasons in order to avoid such incidents in future.
Expressing the sympathy with the heirs of the deceased, the Minister said we are deeply saddened by this incident. Murtaza Solangi prayed to grant deceased a high place in Jannat al-Firdous and also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
A National Highways and Motorways Police (NHMP) spokesman said at least 15 passengers were safely pulled out of the wreckage. He said IG NHMP Sultan Ali Khawaja is supervising the rescue and relief activities.
Khawaja also inquired after the injured. He said short-circuiting was said to be the cause of fire in the bus.
The IG suspended the beat commander and entire night patrolling shift from service and ordered inquiry into the tragic incident.