FAISALABAD, Pakistan: As many as 19 persons were killed while 12 others received multiple injuries when a speeding bus collided with a trailer on Jhang-Faisalabad road during early hours on Wednesday.
Aslam Bhatti, In-charge Investigation, Thikriwala police station told the state-run news agency that Lahore to Layyah route bus (BSD-15) going via Faisalabad hit a trailer at high speed near Adda Sohal, Pansara at Jhang-Faisalabad road at about 2:30 am. The severe accident killed 19 passengers besides causing injuries to 12 others.
On receiving information police rushed to the spot but drivers of both the vehicles had escaped from the scene.
During initial investigation, it transpired that bus driver was rashly driving the vehicle and failed to control it during a bid to avoid hitting a donkey cart. The driver had applied emergency brakes but the vehicle got out of control due to over-speeding. It collided with a Bahawalpur bounded trailer, Aslam Bhatti said.
Rescue 1122 teams shifted bodies to mortuary and injured to nearby hospitals where condition of five was stated to be critical.
Those who died include–Manzooran (50) wife of Mujahid, Samia (15) daughter of Mujahid, Abdur Rehman (8 years) son of Sabir, his brother Ahmad Raza (10 years) son of Sabir,Aasia (26) wife of Ghulam Ali, Aswad (5 months) son of Ghulam Ali, Shahadat Ali (4 years) son of Ghulam Ali, Ashir (5 years) son of Abdul Hameed,Kashif (18) son of Shaukat Ali, Muhammad Nadeem son of Muhammad Ali and Sheeraz Yaqoob son of Yaqoob Masih while other deceased were yet to be identified.
The injured include—Rashid Mehmood, Muhammad Ehsan, Muhammad Iqbal, Muhammad Boota,Zubair Hameed, Misbah, Muhammad Zahid, Khadim Hussain, Asif, Erak, Parveen and Jameela.