Fog and Speed Claim 23 Lives in Pakistan Road Accidents
At least 23 people died in two separate road accidents in Pakistan on Saturday. Six children were among the victims. Dense fog and over-speeding disrupted traffic across several regions, according to officials.
Truck Plunges into Dry Canal in Punjab
In the first incident, 14 people lost their lives. The victims included six children and five women. A truck carrying passengers fell from a bridge into a dry canal in Punjab's Sargodha district.
The accident occurred in Kot Momin tehsil. This location is around 200 kilometres from Lahore. It happened during the early hours of the day.
A spokesperson for Punjab Emergency Services Rescue 1122 provided details. The truck had 23 people on board. Most of them were members of an extended family. They were travelling from Islamabad to Faisalabad to attend a funeral.
The motorway was closed because of heavy fog. The truck took a local route instead. It fell from the Galapur bridge in Kot Momin tehsil into a dry canal. The driver lost control over the vehicle due to poor visibility.
Nine people suffered injuries in the crash. They are receiving treatment at the Civil Hospital in Kot Momin.
Coach Overturns on Coastal Highway in Balochistan
In a separate incident in Balochistan, at least nine people died. Fifteen others sustained injuries. A passenger coach overturned on the Makran Coastal Highway near Gwadar early Saturday.
Coastal Highway Police Superintendent of Police Aslam Bangulzai confirmed the accident. He said the coach was travelling from Jiwani to Karachi.
The accident took place early this morning on the Makran coastal highway. The passenger coach overturned due to over speeding.
Dense Fog Disrupts Traffic Across Punjab
Dense fog has severely affected traffic movement across Punjab's motorways and major roads. This disruption occurs during night and early morning hours. It started with the onset of an extreme cold wave last month.
Several motorway sections have closed intermittently. Low visibility caused these closures.
Pakistan's Frequent Fatal Road Accidents
Pakistan frequently witnesses fatal road accidents. Several factors contribute to these tragedies. Over-speeding is a major cause. Poor enforcement of traffic rules also plays a role. Driver fatigue and weak licensing controls add to the problem.
On December 31, at least 14 passengers died in a head-on collision. A bus and a van crashed on the Jhang-Faisalabad road in Punjab.
