A water tanker collided with a motorcycle late on Saturday night, killing two of one family and injuring another near Lucky One Mall in Karachi. The incident triggered indignation with a mob that sets seven vehicles that got the dumping truck association to close Super Highway and block routes from Sohrab Goth to Thatta.
According to rescuers, siblings Mahnoor, 22, and Ahmed Raza, 14, were critically wounded in the accident near the Federal B area and succumbed to their wounds during treatment while their father, Shakir the son of Salahuddin, undergoes treatment of his injuries.
Police said the tank driver identified as Firdous Khan was caught by an angry mob and beaten before being taken into custody in the wounded state.
The furious mobs pelted stationary dumpers with stones that set seven of them on fire. Four of the damaged trucks were near the Gullhan Chowrangi on the Sohrab Goth route and three were on the opposite lane.
Law enforcement staff and Sindh Rangers were deployed to restore order while the fire brigade team turned off the fans. Police said 10 suspects have been arrested in connection with the violence, where further arrests are expected to be based on CCTV and video.
Read: Karachi prohibits heavy vehicles during the day to tackle increasing accidents
Dumper Truck Association -Liaquat Mehsud said their protest was in response to the mob’s torches of dumping cars. He criticized the Sindh government for imposing restrictions on the movement of dumping cars from morning to 22 and claimed it was detrimental to the industry.
He claimed that the authorities now fought for a complete ban on dumping truck operations and confirmed that all operational points have been closed in protest.
Officials warned that if the blockade continues, the city’s traffic system may be exposed to severe disturbance as tensions remain high.
A total of 546 people have lost their lives and 8,136 sustained serious injuries in traffic accidents in the city during the current year. Heavy vehicles were responsible for 165 of the fatal accidents involving trailers.
An important factor contributing to the high number of deaths is reckless driving of heavy vehicles.
