Islamabad: Eleven people were killed and 33 others injured in a horrific road accident in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Friday. The accident occurred when a passenger bus collided with a truck near Pakpattan. According to local media reports, the injured have been hospitalized.
Pakistan’s Rescue Service 1122 reported that 11 people died in the collision between the bus and the truck. Eight people suffered minor injuries, while 25 others were taken to a hospital in Pakpattan.
Rescue operation lasted three hours
According to a press release issued by the district administration, the accident occurred on Depalpur Road. The passenger bus was traveling from Multan to Kasur, while the truck was coming from the opposite direction. The two vehicles collided violently.
Rescue teams conducted a rescue operation for about three hours after the accident. Cranes and other heavy machinery were used to rescue people trapped in the debris.
Over 44,000 Road Accidents in Punjab in October
A total of 464 people died and 23,543 others were seriously injured in road accidents in Pakistan’s Punjab province during the month of October. Local media quoted rescue officials as saying that a total of 44,797 road accidents were recorded during this period, with nearly three-quarters of these accidents involving motorcycles.
These figures were shared during the monthly review of Rescue 1122’s emergency operations in Punjab districts. According to the department, rescue teams responded to a total of 231,056 emergency incidents in October and saved 233,210 lives.
These incidents included road accidents, fires, medical emergencies, drowning cases, and other rescue operations. The department recorded 1,726 fire incidents and 94 drowning incidents in Punjab during October.
Lahore records highest number of road accidents
The highest number of road accidents in Punjab province was recorded in Lahore, with 7,874 motorcycle-related accidents.
According to data from other cities:
– Multan: 2,838 accidents, involving 3,312 motorcycles.
– Faisalabad: 2,615 accidents, involving 2,896 motorcycles.
– Gujranwala: 2,092 accidents, involving 2,250 motorcycles.
– Sheikhupura: 1,714 accidents, involving 1,706 motorcycles.
– Taunsa Sharif: 142 accidents, involving 160 motorcycles.
Rescue teams also responded to other emergencies
According to a report in The Express Tribune, in October, Rescue 1122 responded to 6,924 fire and rescue emergencies, 5,275 diabetes cases, and 4,915 psychosocial issues.
In addition, 4,227 back and joint pain cases, 4,195 crime-related emergencies, and 379 allergy cases were also recorded.