LAHORE: At least 21 people were killed and 717 others seriously injured in 1,439 traffic accidents reported across Punjab during the past 24 hours, according to the Emergency Services Department on Sunday.
Rescue 1122 teams provided first aid to 908 victims with minor injuries on the spot, easing the burden on hospitals. Most of the accidents—about 74 percent—involved motorcycles, underscoring the urgent need for stricter traffic rule enforcement and lane discipline to curb the rising number of road mishaps in the province.
Data compiled by the Provincial Monitoring Cell of Rescue 1122 showed that 924 drivers, including 66 underage motorists, 536 passengers, and 186 pedestrians were among those affected.
Lahore topped the list with 258 accidents resulting in 298 victims, followed by Multan with 86 accidents and 93 victims, and Faisalabad with 82 accidents and 85 victims.
Of the total 1,646 victims, 1,309 were males and 337 females. Around 341 victims were below 18 years of age, 853 were between 18 and 40, while 452 were aged above 40.
Most of the crashes involved 1,427 motorcycles, 102 auto-rickshaws, 177 cars, 30 vans, nine passenger buses, 45 trucks, and 143 other vehicles.
Officials urged the public to observe traffic laws and wear helmets, warning that negligence and over-speeding continue to claim lives on Punjab’s roads every day.
