- The deceased including four children, aged eight months to one year, and two sisters
CHAKWAL: At least 16 passengers were killed and over 30 others injured in two separate bus accidents on M2 Motorway near Chakwal, rescue and motorway police officials confirmed on Sunday.
According to Chakwal Rescue 1122 spokesperson, nine passengers were killed and 18 others injured when a private bus overturned near the Balkassar Interchange while travelling from Rawalpindi to Lahore.
According to motorway police, the accident occurred after the front-left tyre burst, causing the driver to lose control and the vehicle to overturn.
Emergency responders, including six rescue vehicles and 25 personnel, arrived at the scene and shifted the injured to DHQ Hospital Chakwal.
The rescuers informed that the deceased passengers included women, children, and elderly, adding that most victims sustained fatal head injuries while those who suffered minor injuries were treated on-site.
Dr Saeed Akhter, CEO of Chakwal District Health Authority (DHA), confirmed the death toll, stating that eight passengers died on the spot, and one succumbed to injuries later at the hospital. The bus driver was also among those who lost their lives in the accident.
There were over 40 passengers on board, with the list of the deceased including four children, among them an eight-month-old and a one-year-old. The oldest person among the victims was 45 years old. Two sisters, aged 14 and two, were also among the dead, while their mother was injured.
Additionally, a woman from the Philippines, Emy Dela Cruz, who was married in Lahore, was reported as one of the injured.
Chakwal’s Deputy Commissioner Sarah Hayat and Assistant Commissioner Zeeshan Sharif visited the injured at the hospital, assuring that all necessary medical support would be provided to the injured. Local police cordoned off the crash site and launched investigation into the incident. Police spokespersons urged the public to prioritize vehicle safety checks, especially on long journeys, to prevent further tragedies
Among the deceased were 35-year-old Habiba, 8-month-old Haider, 26-year-old Ume Habiba, a one-year-old unidentified child, 14-year-old Khadija, 2-year-old Haram, 45-year-old Sardar Nadeem, and 38-year-old Mansha Begum. Most suffered fatal head injuries.
The injured include Sana, 20, who sustained a head injury; Hajra, 25, with a deep cut on the head; Saqib, 30, with a cut on the left arm; and Shazia, 50, with a head injury. Mehrab, 18, suffered a wrist crush injury, while Kiran, 48, had a cut on her left arm.
Others injured were Zara, Fahad Majid, Haseeb, Hayat Ullah, and Sakina, 35, who sustained a fracture in the right arm. Zahra, 25, and Asia, 55, received cuts to the chin.
Two-year-old Abeeha and 26-year-old Mohsin Khalil had abrasions on their bodies, while 20-year-old Zohaib sustained an abdominal injury. Adnan, 38, and Rehan, 16, also received minor abrasions.
In another separate incident, seven more people died and 15 were injured when another passenger bus overturned near the Dharabi Bridge. The vehicle, carrying 48 passengers from Islamabad to Lahore, crashed due to speeding, according to Rescue 1122.
Fifteen of the injured were taken to the Trauma Centre, where five are said to be in critical condition. Two of the deceased were also shifted there, while the rest were moved to DHQ Hospital Chakwal.
Authorities remained on high alert as rescue operations continued. Officials cautioned that the injury toll could rise as more information becomes available.
Meanwhile, District Police Officer Chakwal, Ahmed Mohiuddin, took notice of the incident and dispatched a team of senior officers to the site. A police spokesperson stated, “The area has been secured, and legal procedures are underway.”
Chakwal Rescue and Safety Officer, Shaukat Ali, praised the quick response of his teams, saying, “Our rescue teams acted with professionalism, delivering immediate medical assistance to the injured and shifting the deceased to the hospital.”
Two killed in coach-truck collision in Norriabad
Meanwhile, in Jamshoro, a collision between a passenger coach and a truck near Nooriabad claimed two lives including the truck driver and the bus helper and injured 10 others.
The coach was en route from Karachi to Larkana. Several of the injured are reported to be in critical condition and have been taken to nearby hospitals.
Fatal highway accidents remain common in Pakistan, often caused by speeding, dangerous overtaking, and violations of traffic regulations.
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