16 labourers die as bus crashes in Jamshoro
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At least 16 labourers including four children and six women died and 24 others were injured when a mini-bus in which they were travelling overturned near Jamshoro on Monday night, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Tuesday.
The ill-fated Mazda mini-bus which was heading to Badin from Balochistan area of Dareeji was carrying labourers who were returning to home after working in wheat fields.
According to details, the accident occurred in the hilly region in the jurisdiction of Bola Khan police station when the driver of the bus lost control of the vehicle due to overspeeding, overturned and fell into a ravine, resulting in 16 deaths and injuries to two dozen passengers.
The ill-fated van was carrying members of Kolhi tribe from Lapari to Badin. Police and rescue teams rushed to the spot after getting information and shifted the dead bodies and the injured persons to hospital. Some of the injured were later shifted to Hyderabad.
Police confirmed that 12 bodies were recovered from the mishap site. However, four injured succumbed to their injuries at the Liaquat University Hospital in Jamshoro which pushed the death toll to 16.
Rescue personnel warned the death toll may rise further as some of the injured were in critical condition.
Member of Sindh Assembly Malik Sikandar Khan told journalists that they have also sent locals to the accident site for taking party in rescue operation which was facing difficulties due to pitch darkness.
“We have dispatched ambulances and our personal vehicles to the accident site for ferrying injured to the hospital as soon as possible,” the lawmaker said.
SSP Jamshoro Muhammad Zafar Siddique Chaangha informed media men that police teams from Bola Khan police station were also taking part in the relief operation.
The deceased have so far not been identified, the police said, adding it seemed the accident was caused after brakes failure.
Road accidents are quite common in Pakistan, making it one of the hazardous countries. Pakistan has one of the world’s worst records for fatal traffic accidents, blamed on poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.
Reporter Abdul Karim Jamali