Bus crash kills 10, injures 44 in Pakistan’s Punjab

At least 10 people were killed and 44 injured when a passenger bus overturned after hitting a road divider on the Indus Highway in Rajanpur district, in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, early Wednesday, rescue officials said.

The crash occurred at around 5:45 a.m. in the Bangla Hidayat area of Rojhan tehsil, according to Rescue 1122.

What caused the bus crash in Rajanpur?

The bus was reportedly speeding when it struck the divider and overturned, officials said. The driver fled the scene.

Rajanpur Deputy Commissioner Imran Ranjha told local media that a case would be registered against the driver and the vehicle’s owner.

Who were the victims and where are the injured being treated?

The dead comprised seven men, two women and a girl, Rescue 1122 said in an incident report.

Of the 44 injured passengers, 38 were being treated at Rajanpur District Headquarters Hospital. Four critically injured passengers were transferred to Dera Ghazi Khan, while two others with serious injuries were taken to Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Rahim Yar Khan.

How did officials respond to the Rajanpur bus crash?

Rescue 1122 deployed 10 ambulances and two rescue vehicles from Rajanpur, Jampur and Rojhan, with 35 rescuers taking part in the emergency response. An emergency was declared at the district headquarters hospital and nearby medical facilities to handle the influx of casualties.

Ranjha, the district police chief and the assistant commissioner also visited the crash site to oversee rescue efforts and coordinate the response.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed grief over the deaths and offered condolences to the victims’ families. She directed the deputy commissioner to supervise rescue operations, ensure the injured received the best possible treatment and take immediate action against those responsible for the crash.