LAHORE: Three motorcyclists were killed after being hit by a speeding mini-truck near Bhatti Chowk on Sunday.

Police said Umar, Zahid and Ali were on a motorcycle when a speeding mini-truck hit them near Bhatti Gate. As a result, they suffered critical injuries and were shifted by Rescue 1122 staff to hospital where they were declared dead on arrival.

The bodies were later shifted to the city morgue.

According to police, the truck driver fled the scene, leaving the vehicle on the spot. The police said two of the victims were relatives, while the third one was their employee.

Meanwhile, a handout said during the last 24 hours, the Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) responded to 824 road traffic crashes (RTCs) in all 36 districts of Punjab.

In these incidents 14 people died, whereas 882 were injured, 539 of them seriously, who were shifted to different hospitals.

Whereas, 343 persons with minor injuries were treated on the spot by the Rescue 1122 medical teams.

KITE STRING INJURIES: At least three persons were injured by kite string in two different areas of the city on Sunday.

In the first incident, two underage motorcyclists were injured on the Lahore General Hospital flyover when the string of a stray kite inflicted cuts on the forehead of the biker and the neck of the pillion rider.

Because of the string injuries, the motorcyclists lost their balance and fell on the road.

Rescue 1122 ambulances shifted the injured, identified as13-year-old Hasnain and 14-year-old Sadiq, to the Children’s Hospital for treatment, where they were said to be in stable condition.

In the second incident, a motorcyclist was critically injured when a kite string brushed against his face and entangled in the neck at Yadgar Chowk flyover.

The victim was identified as Sohail Mehboob, 21.

A Rescue 1122 team shifted the injured to the Mayo Hospital where he was said to be in stable condition.

Kite flying has been banned in Punjab for several years owing to the casualties caused by sharp string used in the sport. Any violation is punishable with imprisonment and fine or both under the law.

However, youngsters resort to kite flying in some areas of the city in violation of the ban.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2021