GUJRAT: At least 100 traffic accidents are being reported daily in Gujrat district which claim lives of five to 10 people on an average.These alarming figures were shared by a senior official of the Rescue 1122 while speaking to the participants of a traffic awareness seminar organised by Gujrat zone of the National Highways and Motorways Police (NH&MP) here on Thursday.

Male and female Students and teachers of some educational institutions, representatives of civil society, media and National Highways Authority NHA were also among the participants.

Mudassar Ahmed, a senior official, said the Rescue data included those fatalities in which commuters died on the spot or on way to hospitals. “The injured who die later at hospitals go unaccounted for.”

He said the major cause of deaths in road mishaps was the head injury due to reluctance of bikers to wear helmets. He said one wheeling and under-age drivers were other causes of fatal accidents. He said for the cause of a safe and better Pakistan the Rescue 1122 was ready to play its role and offered free training to people to handle emergency situations.

A female official of NH&MP briefed the participants about the women’s safety methods of sitting on a motorbike and how to handle burqa, shawls and Chadar during movement.

NH&MP DSP Malik Khudadad said at least three people lost their lives in every second during various accidents across the country.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2022