SUKKUR: Seven passengers, among them three young girls and two women, were killed and eight others were injured when a speeding coach ploughed into a trailer on Sukkur-Multan M-5 motorway near Drang Malook Wali area in Ghotki district late on Monday night.

Motorway Police officials, who rescued the passengers trapped in the coach and brought the dead bodies and the injured to taluka hospital, blamed the bus driver for the accident as he reportedly had fallen asleep while driving the bus at high speed.

They said that five of the dead bodies were identified as those of a year old Anabia, Hasnat, 11, Shagufta, 35, Noor Ilahi, 53, and Rozina, and the injured, six of whom gave their names as Shafique, Naimat Khan, Misbah, Mahnoor, Hassan Ali and Shafi Khan were provided emergency medical treatment.

They said that three of the injured passengers were said to be in critical condition. Police had impounded both the vehicles, they said.

The ill-fated coach was on its way to Karachi from Mansehra when it met the accident. Rangers officials also took part in the rescue effort, they said.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2024