At least 11 killed, 33 injured in bus-truck collision in Punjab's Pakpattan

At least 11 people were killed and 33 others were injured after a passenger bus collided with a truck on Depalpur Road near Torri Centre in Pakpattan district on Thursday evening.

How did collision unfold on Depalpur Road?

According to Rescue 1122 and the district administration, the passenger bus was travelling from Multan to Kasur when it collided head-on with a truck travelling from the opposite direction near the 17/SP stop.

The precise cause of the collision was not immediately confirmed by highway and traffic police.

Rescue workers carry out an operation at the site of a deadly bus-truck collision on Depalpur Road in Pakpattan.Picture Courtesy: Rescue 1122

Rescue 1122 received an emergency call at 6:38 pm and dispatched nine emergency response vehicles alongside 20 rescuers to the site. First responders initially confirmed four fatalities, but the death toll subsequently rose to 11 as rescue teams worked through the severely mangled vehicle.

Officials noted that eight passengers sustained minor injuries, while 25 critically injured victims were evacuated and transported to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Pakpattan for specialized emergency care.

What emergency measures were taken during the rescue operation?

The rescue operation continued for roughly three hours as emergency personnel deployed cranes, hydraulic cutters, and heavy machinery to cut through the crushed wreckage and pull out passengers trapped inside the cabin. Casualties identified among the deceased included personnel from the Punjab Patrolling Police and the Para Force.

Pakpattan Deputy Commissioner Asif Raza and District Police Officer (DPO) Javed Iqbal Chadhar arrived at the scene to supervise the relief and site-clearance operations. In light of the high casualty count, Deputy Commissioner Raza declared an emergency at the DHQ Hospital, mobilizing additional surgeons, medical officers, and nursing staff.

The DC and DPO later visited the facility to inspect trauma wards, review medical arrangements, and meet with the surviving passengers.

The deputy commissioner instructed hospital management to ensure uninterrupted, free-of-cost medical treatment for all victims and directed relevant municipal departments to provide immediate logistical support to the bereaved families.

How did provincial and federal leadership respond to the crash?

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life, conveying his condolences to the bereaved families and praying for the rapid recovery of the injured.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed profound grief over the tragedy and directed the health department and local administration to deliver the best possible medical care to all injured passengers.

The chief minister also sought a comprehensive inquiry report from the Pakpattan district administration to ascertain the circumstances, vehicle roadworthiness, and potential traffic negligence behind the crash.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq separately issued a message of condolence to the victims' relatives and prayed for the injured.

Local traffic authorities have opened an investigation into the collision as forensic teams document the crash site.