10 April 2004	Saturday	19 Safar 1425

KARACHI, April 9: Six people were killed in two separate accidents at Five-Star Chawrangi in North Nazimabad on Friday. Two more persons lost their lives in accidents in Keamari and Soldier Bazaar during the day.

At Five-Star Chawrangi, a young couple riding a motorcycle was knocked down by a speedy water tanker. Mohammad Ashraf, 38, and Ms Shamim, 30, residents of Buffer Zone, died on the spot. However, their two-year-old son, whose name could not be ascertained immediately, had a miraculous escape though he sustained minor injuries. The family was reportedly going to attend a wedding ceremony.

The accident sent a wave of shock among witnesses and residents of the area. Enraged youth set the water tanker on fire and pelted stones at moving vehicles. Police rushed to the scene and dispersed the mob with baton-charging. A strong contingent of Rangers also arrived at the scene to help police bring the situation under control.

TPO North Nazimabad Sultan Khawaja told Dawn that the accident took place close to the traffic signal near KFC. Mr Irfan, who happened to be there when the accident occurred, told Dawn that the water tanker was heading towards Board Office in a high speed and it hit the couple on motorcycle. He said that the mother was carrying the toddler in her lap.

Another witness said that the tanker had totally smashed the young couple and their vehicle but it was amazing that the two-year-old boy escaped even grave injuries.

"Even after his mother's death, the child was sitting in his mother's lap, though in a state of shock," he added. The traffic signal at the scene was not operational when the tragic accident took place, Irfan remarked.

Edhi's ambulances shifted the couple's bodies to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where a large number of people assembled. Police have arrested the driver of errant water tanker, Adam Khan.

Earlier, in the morning, four people died when two vehicles collided head-on at the same roundabout. The victims were grocers who were on their way back to Orangi Town after purchasing vegetables from the New Sabzimandi, police said.

The mini-truck they were riding in was hit by a passenger bus, Khan Coach (KE-6867). All the four grocers sustained serious injuries while two of the coach passengers also received wounds in the accident.

The grocers, Shamsul Haq, Mohammad Rashid, Din Mohammad and Ameer Mohammad, were taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival. Police arrested the driver of the coach, Asghar, and impounded the vehicle.

Talking to Dawn later, DIG Traffic Mohammad Yameen Khan said that the Five-Star Chowrangi had become a 'blind turning' following the raising of walls around the KWSB installation, a pumping station' in the centre of the roundabout. Over-speeding, he added, appeared another factor contributing to such tragedies.

In Jackson area, a 24-year-old youth, Nisar Ahmed, was knocked down by a hit-and-run vehicle. Police said Nisar was plying cricket near Ghas Bandar when a speeding long vehicle hit him. He was taken to civil hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Another youth, Samiullah, 35, fell down from a coach and came under the wheels of a bus approaching from behind. The accident took place in Soldier Bazaar area. The victim was a resident of Surjani town, police said. His body was shifted to the Civil Hospital for postmortem examination.