ISLAMABAD: A poet, Farzana Naz, died on Tuesday after falling from stage during one of the sessions at the National Book Festival on Monday.

According to witnesses, the 36-year-old poet had lost consciousness when she slipped and fell from the stage.

A witness said those attending the event asked officials of the motorway police, who were present there, to move the victim to the hospital.

“There was no support or fence around the stage which is why she fell. I think there was a fault with the Pak-China Friendship Centre’s stage and it should be removed to avoid similar accidents in future,” the witness said.

Doctors said the writer sustained injuries to the brain, parts of which had stopped working, and also broke some discs in her spine.

Farzana Naz’ first book was published just a month ago.

She has two children – four and six years old. She belonged to Bhalwal and had an MA in Urdu from the Punjab University.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2017