KARACHI: “They were the brightest students of Daulatpur. All of them were top position holders and were selected for a quiz. It’s a great loss not only for their parents and their town but also for the whole country,” says Safia Shahid whose niece is one of the 10 victims admitted to the Aga Khan University Hospital after getting serious injuries in the Wednesday horrific accident in Nawabshah.

The tragedy claimed the life of around 20 people including 17 students and two teachers of the Bright Future Public High School.

While eight patients arrived at the hospital late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, two patients 15-year-old Muqaddas Noor and 12-year-old Sidra Wagra reported at the hospital late Thursday evening. Both having multiple injuries are in critical condition, doctors say.

“I am thankful to God that He saved the life of my niece but at the same time I am saddened by the death of so many other students who were the pride of our town, Daulatpur,” Safiya tells Dawn while sitting along the bedside of her 11-year-old niece Rohina, a student of Class VI.

In the same ward sleep her class fellow Sana Hussain and her 15-year-old cousin, Beenish Iqbal, a student of Class IX. The girls brought to the AKUH with injuries to their head, legs and jaw are said to be out of danger now. They are being looked after by their cousin, Mansoor Ali. He says: “Beenish gained her senses this morning and talked to us but Sana hasn’t.” He quotes doctors as saying that her brain scan report is normal and she is in a state of shock.

Both have been referred to the AKUH after being provided with first aid at the Peoples University Medical Hospital.

At the special care ward, an elderly woman from Shah Faisal Colony attends to her 12-year-old niece. “I am here because Laraib’s parents have gone to attend the funeral of her cousin, Fariha, who died in the accident,” she explains.

Imran Pirzada, 14, with head injuries and a leg fracture is lying nearby. He is the only son of

his parents and his father who works in Balochistan has been informed about his condition, says his uncle, Ali Akbar, while speaking to Dawn. “Imran is a brilliant student and wants to become an engineer,” he adds, while praying for his early recovery.

Outside the emergency ward, Ghulam Mustafa, father of 13-year-old Afnan, looks gloomy over the state of his only daughter who has yet to gain conscious even after a day. “My daughter is very sensitive. She had always refused to be administered injection. Now, look at her condition; she can’t stop people from administering injections,” he says in a choked voice.

Sitting beside him is Mohammad Boota, uncle of 11-year-old Yasmin Shabbir, Class VII student. “Yasmin is in serious condition. She is in the intensive care unit and doctors have told us that anything could happen,” he says. Her father, who worked in Saudi Arabia, arrived here in the morning and left for Nawabshah shortly afterwards for his son’s funeral. “Twelve-year-old Yasin died in accident. He always topped in exams,” his uncle recalls.

Rubab Akhtar Khanzada, too, in unconscious condition has been admitted to the intensive care unit.

Appreciating timely government support, the families says that it is bearing treatment expenses.

About condition of the eight patients who were brought to the hospital earlier, Dr Saqib Qazi at the AKUH emergency says that three of them are in critical condition. “Two patients are on the ventilators while the one with serious liver and spleen injuries is also receiving special care.

“There is no doubt that the doctors at the Nawabshah hospital did a good job,” he adds.