Deadly collision: More casualties feared

KHAIRPUR: A horrible road crash near Khairpur claimed lives of at least 60 people and injured 20, while casualties are being feared to rise Tuesday.

A deadly collision between passenger bus and truck occurred near Tehri spot of Khairpur in wee hours of the day. The bus was hailing from Swat to Karachi. According to initial reports, eye witnesses said the horrible accident took place due to negligence of bus driver, who drifted off while driving.

The bus caught fire after the fatal accident and collision between the vehicles was so strong that four dozen people died on the spot due to intensity of the crash. The truck was filled with coal. The dead and the injured persons were immediately moved to Khairpur Civil Hospital. The officials at the hospital said several injured were in critical condition. Medical superintendent Khairpur hospital  said most of the victims belonged to Swat.

AFP adds: “The Karachi-bound passenger bus, which was coming from northwestern city of Swat went on the wrong side of the road and collided head-on with a goods container, killing 56 people,” senior local police official Nasir Aftab told. He said 18 passengers were injured in the accident, adding that those killed in the crash included 17 women and 18 children. Pakistan has an appalling record of fatal traffic accidents due to poor roads, badly-maintained vehicles and reckless driving. The emergency services’ recovery equipment is basic and when crashes happen away from major towns, as they often do, rescue efforts can take some time, reducing injured passengers’ chances of survival. Agencies