Death toll in bus collision reaches 41

By Sardar Burhan ISLAMABAD, April 20 (KUNA) -- At least 41 people were killed and 30 others injured on Sunday as a passenger bus collided with a trailer on the National Highway in southern Pakistani province, police said in an updated report.
The accident took place near Pano Akil area in Sukkur district of Sindh province when a bus traveling from Dera Ghazi Khan to Karachi city collided with a trailer.
Dr. Muhammad Bakhsh, in charge of a regional hospital that admitted the casualties, confirmed that number of casualties increased to 41 deaths with several others injured. The dead included 12 children and 13 women, he added.
Traffic police in charge of the area, SSP Faisal, said in a statement told that there were 60 passengers on board, adding that reckless driving was the major cause of the accident. The passenger bus overturned after hitting the trailer due to over speeding.
Police and rescue teams immediately reached the scene for rescue. They cut through the wreckage of the bus to take the injured people out of the bus.
President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain expressed his profound grief over the accident that resulted in loss of precious lives and injuries, said a statement from President House.
The Chief Minister of Sindh Province, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, in a statement, expressed sorrow over the unfortunate deadly accident and ordered the authorities to provide best medical facilities to the victims.
The dead and wounded were shifted to the nearby hospital for immediate medical treatment.
Pakistan oten witnesses fatal traffic accidents due to bad and unpaved roads, badly maintained vehicles and careless driving. (end) sbk.rk