DADU: At least 13 people were burned to death and 50 others injured when a coach carrying a wedding party touched a high-voltage electric wire and caught fire on Indus Highway in Khairpur Nathan Shah on Sunday.

The coach was taking the wedding party back to Datal Babar village after the marriage of Shabbir Babar in Dadu when it touched the 11,000kV wire on K.N. Shah Bypass.

The bodies and injured were taken to the K.N. Shah Taluka Hospital by the area’s villagers and other people.

Those killed in the accident were 10-year-old Hatul; Parveen, 16; Jaindo, 50; Amina, 25; Sihat Khatoon, 45; Ashique, 25, Mai Khatoon, Sarfraz, Farhan, Zahidan, Azam, Bibul and Khalidan. Several children and women were among the injured.

According to the hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr Saddique Maznani, two women died while they were being taken to Karachi. He said another person had died in a hospital in Larkana.

The doctor said 30 of the injured had been sent to Larkana and Dadu by 10 ambulances.

The Dadu Civil Hospital’s medical officer, Dr Niaz Kalhoro, said eight people had been brought there and seven of them had been referred to Karachi because they had suffered critical injuries, while one, Ghulam Qadir, had been admitted.

K.N. Shah’s Deputy Superintendent of Police Nazeer Lashari said that coach driver, Mehboob Ali, had fled but the vehicle had been impounded.

He said the groom and bride were safe because they were travelling in a car.

Talking to Dawn, injured Ghulam Qadir said the medical facilities in Khairpur Nathan Shah were insufficient.

He said a number of women and children engulfed in the fire in the coach cried out for help, but only a few people from adjoining villages came to help them after some time.

An injured woman, Najma, said the men travelling in the coach had asked the driver not to cross the wire but he attempted to do so and the vehicle caught fire.

District Health Officer Dr Javid Ahmed Dawchh said all the bodies had been sent to their village and those with minor injuries had been discharged from the local hospital.

PML-N legislator from K.N. Shah Sourath Thebo said she had complained to officials of the Sukkur Electric Power Company (Sepco) and asked them to remove the wire from the highway but they had not paid attention.

Former provincial minister Pir Mazharul Haq of the PPP said the government should bear the expenses of the treatment of the injured.

The Sepco chief executive suspended Sub-Divisional Officer Irfan Sheikh, Line Superintendent Shabbir Chandio and Lineman Mohammad Baqir on charges of negligence and ordered an inquiry on the instruction of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2015

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