SIALKOT: Two youths were killed and as many others seriously injured on Monday when their car rammed into electricity poles near Bismillah Chowk on main Sialkot-Pasrur road.

According to police, four friends -- Soma Sarfraz, Shakur, Zubair and Irfan Masih -- were traveling by a car that rammed into roadside electricity poles. Because of the accident, main 11,000KV electrica wire snapped, while two poles and a transformer fell on the car.

As a result, Soma Sarfraz and Shakur died on the spot, while Zubair and Irfan were seriously injured. The car was badly damaged.

According to the police, the car driver was under the influence of liquor at the time of accident.

Police also claimed to have recovered four bottles of liquor from the car.

Rescue 1122 officials shifted the dead bodies to the Government Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital for autopsy. The injured were said to be in a critical condition.

TRAUMA CENTRE: Residents of Daska have been demanding establishment of a trauma centre at the local tehsil headquarters hospital since long.

According to the THQ hospital administration, those injured in accidents occurring on the main Sialkot-Daska-Gujranwala road and Daska-Pasrur road, have to be usually referred to hospitals in Gujranwala or Lahore because of the absence of a trauma centre at the healthcare facility.

The doctors said most of the seriously injured succumbed to their injuries on way to Gujranwala or Lahore due to the absence of trauma centre.

The hospital management said a case had already been sent to the Punjab government for approval of a well-equipped trauma centre at Daska Civil Hospital, besides funds allocation.

Local health officials say they are waiting for a go-ahead from the provincial government, in this regard.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2016