A devastating bus accident on the M-2 Motorway near the Chakri Interchange on Sunday has resulted in the deaths of at least six people, including women and children, and left 38 others injured. The incident, which occurred due to the bus skidding off the road and plunging into a ravine, has prompted widespread concern over road safety, particularly during adverse weather conditions.
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According to Motorway Police and Rescue 1122 officials, the ill-fated passenger bus, carrying 43 passengers, was en route from Rawalpindi to Multan when the driver reportedly lost control. Initial investigations suggest that speeding on the slippery, rain-soaked road contributed to the tragic crash. A female survivor, in a video statement to a Rescue 1122 officer, claimed the bus was fully packed and the driver ignored passenger warnings to slow down.
Emergency services, including Motorway Police, Rescue 1122, and Frontier Works Organization (FWO) teams, responded swiftly to the scene. They provided immediate first aid to the injured before shifting them to various hospitals, including District Headquarters Hospital Chakwal, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, and DHQ Hospital Rawalpindi. Seven of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.
Among the deceased identified are 50-year-old Saima Subhan from Karachi, Samina Nasir (50) from Mian Channu, Faheem (18) from Wah Cantt, Naveeda Naheed from Pir Mahal, Muhammad Ashraf (35), and Iram Batool, who succumbed to her injuries later in the hospital. The injured include 11 children aged between one and 17.
Chakri Police, led by SHO Inspector Masood, have initiated a formal inquiry into the incident. Authorities are currently investigating the exact cause of the crash and working to ascertain accountability. The driver and his assistant could not be located at the scene immediately after the accident.
This tragic event underscores the critical importance of cautious driving, especially on motorways affected by rainfall, and has once again brought the issue of road safety and traffic rule enforcement to the forefront of national discussion.
