LAYYAH: Eleven people were killed and 20 others injured on Wednesday when a Rawalpindi-bound bus overturned after colliding with a tractor-trolley parked along Layyah-Karore Road.

The bus, going from Karachi, rammed into a tree after colliding with the tractor-trolley near the Janglaat Pulli area.

The injured were taken to the Karor Tehsil Headquarters Hospital and Layyah District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital by police and the personnel of Rescue 1122.

Of them, nine with life-threatening injuries were taken to the Nishtar Hospital in Multan. Six of them were identified as Kiran Bibi, Sohail Ahmed, Shahzaman, Nadeem, Muhammad Sadiq and Kamia Khatoon.

The deceased included Sarfaraz Ali, 32; Ruqiya Bibi, 24; and Sheraz, 1, all from Quaidabad in Khushab; Ghulam Ruqiya, 30; Liaquat Ali, and Asma Liaquat, 1, from Talagung in Chakwal; and Qamar Zaman, 45; Manzoor, 35; and Bakht Ali. Other deceased could not be identified.

Of the injured, 11 people were discharged after treatment at the Layyah DHQ Hospital.

AFP adds: A police official, Inayat Baloch, confirmed the accident and casualties.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the crash.

In a statement, he expressed sympathies with the heirs of victims and directed the administration to provide best medical treatment to them.

The chief minister also sought a report from the administration about the accident.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2017