27 killed, 66 injured as bus falls into gorge in East Pakistan

By APD Writer Muhammad Sohail

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 9 (APD) -- At least 27 people were killed and 66 others injured on Wednesday night after a passenger bus fell into a gorge in Pakistan’s eastern province of Punjab, police and rescue service officials said.

According to the officials, the accident happened at around 10:00 p.m. local time in Dhok Pathan area of Tateh Jang region of Attock, a district of Punjab province.

Those affected are receiving treatment in hospital.

Locals, police and rescue teams reached the site soon after the accident was reported and transferred the bodies and injured to the hospitals in nearby cities of Chakwal and Talagang.

A hospital official said that the death toll might further rise four of the injured are in critical condition.

The ill-fated bus, with over 90 passengers onboard, was heading towards the provincial capital Lahore from north-western Kohat district for a religious gathering.

The police official said that the initial investigations hinted that the bus fell into the ravine due to brake failure.

Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab, took notice of the accident and expressed a deep sense of sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives. He also extended heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families and directed the administration to provide best healthcare facilities to the injured.

According to official data, around 9,000 road accidents are reported every year since 2011 in Pakistan, in which around 5,000 people lost their lives on average annually and scores of others faced permanent disabilities.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)