Deadly truck crash in Pakistan's Lahore kills five, including children

At least five people, including two schoolgirls, were killed and four others injured in a traffic accident involving a dumper truck at Akhri Mint Stop on the Grand Trunk (GT) Road in Lahore on Tuesday, according to local authorities.

The collision occurred in the city’s Shalimar area, a densely populated suburb of Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city and provincial capital of Punjab. Among the deceased were two young female students, Aima, 12, and Hafiza, 10.

Among the other deceased were Dawood Ahmad, 41, Rafaqat, 45, and one unidentified male who appeared to be in his early 20s.

Police said the crash involved a high-speed dumper truck, which collided with multiple pedestrians and vehicles. Four others, including a 10-year-old boy and an 18-year-old girl, sustained serious injuries and were shifted to Services and Shalimar hospitals in Lahore.

Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr. Usman Anwar took immediate notice of the incident, demanding a report from Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) and directing Deputy Inspector General (Operations) to identify those responsible. He also ordered the arrest of the dumper truck driver, whose alleged negligence is believed to have caused the accident.

“This is a tragic loss of life, especially the young schoolchildren. Those responsible will be held accountable with strict legal action,” IG Anwar said in a statement.

Speeding and poor enforcement of traffic laws are major contributors to road traffic accidents in the country, which claims thousands of lives annually.

An investigation is underway. No arrests had been confirmed at the time of publication.