Rawalpindi:
At least six people, including women and children, were killed, and 38 others wounded after a passenger bus fell into a gorge near the Chakri exchange on the M-2 motorway on Sunday, reportedly due to faster on a smooth, rainfall road.
According to officials, the unhappy bus was driven by a private transport company-on the road from Rawalpindi to Multan and carried 43 passengers at the time of the accident. The vehicle went out of the way near Chakri and threw itself into a deep gorge.
Highway Police, Rescue 1122 and other relief services responded quickly to stage. The wounded were provided first aid on the spot before being moved to various hospitals. Seven of the wounded are reported to be in critical condition.
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The original accounts suggest that the driver was quick despite poor visibility and smooth conditions. A female survivor, in a video that was recorded while spoken to a rescue 1122 officer, said the vehicle was fully packed and that the driver ignored warnings from passengers to slow down, leading to the deadly crash.
Among the deceased were 50-year-old Saiden Subhan of Karachi, Samina Nasir, 50, from Mian Channu, and Faheem, an 18-year-old from Wah Cantt. Also confirmed that Dead was Naveeda Naheed of Pir Mahal, Muhammad Ashraf, 35, and Iram Batool, who succumbed to her injuries later in the hospital.
Among the wounded are 11 children aged one and 17. Of the 38 wounded, 23 were taken to District Headquarters Hospital Chakwal, eight to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad and seven to DHQ Hospital Rawalpindi. The deceased bodies were transported to district hospitals in Chakwal and Rawalpindi.
Chakri police, led by SHO Inspector Masood, has initiated a formal investigation into the incident. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the driver and his assistant are among the wounded or dead as they could not be placed on stage.
The motorway police and district officials said that investigations are in progress to determine the exact cause of the crash and ascertain accountability.
