KHUZDAR / MARDAN: Eight people, including, five students, were killed and four injured in two road accidents in Hub and Mardan on Saturday.

In the Winder area of Hub district, a hi-roof carrying a group of students was hit by a speeding truck from the opposite side near the Bareeda Camp.

The van was on its way to Panjgur from Kar­achi. Three students were killed on the spot.

Police and rescue officials moved the dead and injured to the Jam Ghulam Qadir Govern­m­ent Hosp­ital where two students succumbed to their injuries. Four injured have been moved to Karachi for treatment.

The deceased have been id­­entified as Muhammad Zahir, Fida Hussain, Sho­aib Ikram, Sohail Ahmed and Shahab Rahim. Their bodies were later handed over to the families after medico-legal formalities.

Separately, three people, including a woman passenger, were killed, while 18 others sustained injuries when a bus overturned on the Mar­dan-Peshawar Motor­way near Rashakai interchange.

Officials said the bus was going from Peshawar to Karachi when it overtur­n­­ed. The deceased included the driver, conductor and a woman passenger. The dead and injured were moved to the Mardan Medical Complex Hospital.

Eyewitnesses said the accident occurred due to a scuffle between the driver and conductor on the moving bus. As a result, the driver lost control of the bus, and it skidded off the motorway and overturned.

Officials said the accident took place within the remits of Thoru Police Station near the Rashakai Interchange and an investigation has been launched.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2024