Five killed, 20 injured as bus plunges into drain in Punjab's Hafizabad

At least five people were killed and 20 injured when a passenger bus plunged into a drain in Pakistan’s Punjab province at around 4:20am on Thursday.

The accident happened near Fatehke in Pindi Bhattian tehsil of Hafizabad district, and the driver reportedly lost control near a bridge over the drain, according to Rescue 1122.

What caused the Hafizabad bus accident?

The bus was travelling from Raiwind to Chiniot when the driver reportedly lost control while making a U-turn near a bridge. Rescue officials said the driver had fallen asleep, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and fall into the drain.

Emergency teams, including ambulances, motorcycle responders and a fire vehicle, were dispatched to the scene. Five rescue vehicles took part in the operation, Rescue 1122, the province’s emergency service, said.

How did rescuers and officials respond to the Hafizabad bus accident?

Rescuers provided first aid to 20 injured passengers before transferring them to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Pindi Bhattian. The bodies of the five people killed were also taken to the hospital.

A crane was brought in with the assistance of local authorities to lift the overturned bus. According to the emergency service, rescue teams recovered the five bodies from beneath the vehicle.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed grief over the deaths and extended condolences to the victims’ families, according to a statement from her office. She directed local officials to oversee the treatment of the injured and prayed for their recovery.

Hafizabad Deputy Commissioner and District Police Officer Rao Ahmad visited the accident site to review rescue efforts. They later visited the hospital, where they checked on the injured passengers and assessed the medical care being provided.