Panno Akil- At least 42 people, including women and children, were killed and 20 others sustained injuries when a passenger coach collided with a trailer coming from the opposite side near Panu Aqil in Sindh province early today, police and doctors said.
Doctors said some injured were registered critical. Police said the coach was on its way to Karachi from Dera Ghazi Khan when it collided with a trailer coming from opposite side on National Highway near Panno Akil, killing dozens of people on spot. Some later died in hospitals of wounds. The bus was carrying over 50 passengers when the driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with the trailer coming from the opposite direction, rescue sources said.
Witnesses said the coach was completely destroyed, trapping the injured people inside. Police personnel and rescue teams immediately reached the site of the incident and began cutting through the wreckage of the bus to rescue the victims. The injured were immediately rushed to the nearby district headquarters hospital. People complained that only one doctor was on duty when the injured were brought there.
Hospital sources said five women, two kids and six members of a family were among the dead. Faisal Abdullah, Superintendent Motorway Police said that the accident occurred due to negligence of the bus driver who rammed into the trailer while trying to overtake from the wrong side.
The deceased included women, children and the driver of the bus as well, according to rescue sources who added that the driver of the trailer had also sustained wounds in the mishap. Most of the victims belonged to Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan, doctors and police said after they carried out identification process.
The President, the Prime Minister, Chief Minister Punjab, Sindh and political leaders expressed sorrow over the accident. The Sindh Chief Minister directed hospital administration to provide best possible medical treatment to the injured people. NNI