HYDERABAD, Oct 10: Thirteen members of a family, including four minor children and three women, were killed and eight injured when a pulse-loaded truck overturned and fell on a van at the Hyderabad bypass on Friday.

The Hiace van (CK-5535) coming from Karachi was on its way to Dhoro Naro, Mirpurkhas district to attend a marriage ceremony.

As the van stopped at the bypass toll plaza for payment of toll tax, a truck (PRN-9991) after running over the footpath overturned on the van resulting in the death of its 13 occupants.

Those dead were identified as Shahida, wife of Islamuddin, 30; Maryam, wife of Mohammad Naeem, 29; Erum, daughter of Mohammad Naeem, 6; Owais, son of Jang Sher; Maleeha, daughter of Mohammad Naeem; Saira, daughter of Islamuddin; Amna, daughter of Usman; Mohammad Naeem, son of Mohammad Usman; Mohammad Nadeem, son of Mohammad Usman (bridegroom), Mohammad Shabbir Ahmed, Aisha, daughter of Mohammad Islam, Nizamuddin, son of Mukhtar Ahmed; and Islam, son of Mohammad Naeem.

The bodies were sent to Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Hospital, Jamshoro, and Civil Hospital, Hyderabad.

Those injured Mohammad Islam, Mohammad Usman, Islamuddin, Ramzani, Waseem, Asad, Ghulam Raza and Saleem were also removed to the Civil Hospital.

The victims belonged to a family of Malik clan, residing in Korangi, Karachi.

The bridegroom was a radio mechanic and his Nikah was solemnized in Karachi four days back. He and his family were on their way to Dhoronaro to bring the bride.

The vehicular traffic remained blocked on the by-pass for more than one hour as the bodies and the injured were shifted to hospitals through the Edhi ambulances.

Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister on Home Affairs Aftab Ahmed Sheikh visited the hospitals to inquire about the health of the injured persons.

He expressed sympathy with the bereaved families and directed the hospitals’ administrations to ensure proper treatment of the injured.

By Our Staff Reporter from Karachi adds: The bodies were shifted to the Edhi Home at Shorab Goth, from the Civil Hospital, Jamshoro, on Friday afternoon.

An Edhi Foundation official, Rizwan Edhi, told Dawn that all the thirteen bodies were shifted to Korangi No. 2 1/2, Sector 33-D, where the ill-fated family resided.

He said the burial would take place on Friday night in Korangi.

The family had left Karachi on Friday morning in two vehicles for the marriage ceremony of Nadeem, 26, who also died in the accident.

The six injured were also shifted to the city on Friday evening by the Edhi ambulances.

They were referred to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Rizwan Edhi added.

APP adds: The Motorway Police said the truck driver escaped and efforts were being made for his arrest.