LAHORE:
At least 44 people were killed and more than 5,400 injured in road accidents across Punjab during the first two days of Eid.
Official figures show that 23 people lost their lives and 2,792 were injured in 2,206 accidents on Saturday. The following day, 21 deaths were reported in 2,087 traffic accidents, in which 2,643 people were injured.
The two-day tally was 4,293 road accidents, resulting in 44 deaths and 5,435 injuries across the province, highlighting an increase in road accidents during the festive period.
Rescue officials said that on the second day, 1,230 critically injured victims were moved to hospitals, while 1,413 others with minor injuries were treated at the crash sites.
A similar pattern had been observed on Eid day, with a large number of victims receiving first aid at the scene, easing the pressure on emergency departments.
The provincial capital remained the most affected city on both days, reporting 322 accidents each day. These incidents collectively injured more than 800 people and caused at least three deaths in the city.
Other major urban centers including Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala also recorded a significant number of accidents, reflecting increased mobility and traffic congestion during the Eid celebrations.
An analysis of the data shows that motorcyclists were the most vulnerable group, with around 84 percent of accidents involving motorcycles. Emergency officials noted that reckless driving, speeding and violations of other traffic rules were among the leading causes of accidents.
