QUETTA/GILGIT: Nine people, including five policemen, died and 12 others suffered injuries in road accidents in different areas of Balochistan during the last 48 hours, police said on Wednesday.

Officials said policemen were escorting the SSP Lasbela, who was travelling to Uthal from Hub, on Monday. When they entered the limits of Uthal a vehicle coming from the opposite direction hit the escort pick-up, killing five cops on the spot.

Confirming the deaths, police officials said two other constables received serious injuries. Police shifted the bodies and the injured to the district hospital. The wounded cops were sent to Karachi after initial treatment. The deceased were identified as Nadir, Mohammad Rafiq, Irfan Ronjha, Abdul Rasheed and Saleh Mohammad. Their bodies were handed over to their families after formalities. Police said the driver of the other vehicle fled the scene after the accident.

In another accident that took place at Zhob-D.I. Khan road, two people were killed and seven others injured when a pick-up overturned. The bodies and the injured were shifted to the district hospital Zhob.

Five of a family among six die in Gilgit-Baltistan accidents

Officials said two people were killed and three others injured in yet another accident at Quetta-Sibi highway. Some people were going on a picnic when their car overturned while taking a blind turn near the Gokurt area in the Bolan valley. The deceased were identified as Ravi Kumar and Mukash Kumar.

Five of a family die

Meanwhile, six people, including five members of a family, died in separate accidents apparently caused by brake failure of their vehicles in Naltar Valley of Gilgit and near Babusar Top in Diamer on Wednesday.

Five members of a family, including two children and two women, lost their lives and one received injuries when their car fell from Naltar Expressway, while a tourist was killed and several others injured when a car crashed into a shop near Babusar top.

According to rescue officials, six family members of a family from Maharban Pura area of Gilgit were heading to Naltar in their car on the third day of Eid when it fell from the hilly road while descending the expressway.

Mohammad Arif, 40, his wife, their two daughters and his mother-in-law died on the spot, while their relative Rizwan Ali sustained injuries, officials said, adding that the bodies and the injured were shifted to regional headquarters hospital in Gilgit.

The injured person is said to be in critical condition.

The accident was apparently caused by brake failure.

Meanwhile, rescue 1122 officials said that one tourist died and several others were injured when a car crashed into a shop at Thak area of Diamer near Babusar Top, apparently due to a brake failure.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2024

Opinion

From hard to harder

From hard to harder

Instead of ‘hard state’ turning even harder, citizens deserve a state that goes soft on them in delivering democratic and development aspirations.

Editorial

Canal unrest
Updated 03 Apr, 2025

Canal unrest

With rising water scarcity in Indus system, it is crucial to move towards a consensus-driven policymaking process.
Iran-US tension
03 Apr, 2025

Iran-US tension

THE Trump administration’s threats aimed at Iran do not bode well for global peace, and unless Washington changes...
Flights to history
03 Apr, 2025

Flights to history

MOHENJODARO could have been the forgotten gold we desperately need. Instead, this 5,000-year-old well of antiquity ...
Eid amidst crises
Updated 31 Mar, 2025

Eid amidst crises

Until the Muslim world takes practical steps to end these atrocities, these besieged populations will see no joy.
Women’s rights
Updated 01 Apr, 2025

Women’s rights

Such judgements, and others directly impacting women’s rights should be given more airtime in media.
Not helping
Updated 02 Apr, 2025

Not helping

If it's committed to peace in Balochistan, the state must draw a line between militancy and legitimate protest.