11 killed, 33 injured as bus collides with truck near Punjab's Pakpattan

At least 11 individuals, comprising a Rescue 1122 official and a Para Force personnel, lost their lives and 33 others sustained injuries when a passenger bus collided with a truck on Depalpur Road near Pakpattan, according to a Rescue 1122 spokesperson. The tragic accident happened on Thursday when the bus, en route from Multan to Kasur, struck the truck coming from the opposite direction near the 17 SP Stop on Depalpur Road.

Rescue efforts were immediately initiated to extricate passengers trapped in the wreckage, employing heavy machinery like cranes to aid in the retrieval process.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz requested a detailed report on the incident and emphasized the need for ensuring optimal medical care for the injured passengers. In response to her directives, Pakpattan Deputy Commissioner Asif Raza swiftly arrived at the hospital. The CM also conveyed her condolences to the families of the deceased, including a Para Force official and a patrolling police officer, who were among those killed in the accident.

Following the Chief Minister's orders, Raza declared an emergency at the District Headquarters Hospital in Pakpattan, arranging for additional medical personnel. Road accidents are a recurrent issue in Punjab, often attributed to reckless driving, increasing vehicle ownership, and insufficient pedestrian infrastructure. The surge in accidents throughout the province has once again brought attention to public safety, road planning, and traffic management.

In October alone, Punjab witnessed 44,797 road traffic accidents, resulting in the deaths of at least 464 people and 23,543 serious injuries, as reported by Rescue 1122. Motorcycles were involved in nearly a third of these incidents, with Lahore recording the highest number of crashes, followed by Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Sheikhupura.