KARACHI: An angry mob set two water tankers on fire after a motorcyclist was run over and killed by one of the heavy vehicles on main University Road near Safari Park on Saturday, police and rescue service officials said.

DIG-Traffic Ahmed Nawaz Cheema said drivers of the two water tankers (JU-1140 and PTA-728) were allegedly involved in a race while moving towards Nipa Chowrangi when one of them hit a bike-rider.

The victim suffered critical injuries and was taken to a hospital where he died during treatment. He was identified as Zeeshan Akhter, 21.

The incident sparked a violent protest as enraged people present there pelted both the tankers with stones and later set them on fire, the officer said.

They blocked the main University Road for hours and staged a protest. Many residents complained that accidents involving recklessly driven water tankers had become a routine on University Road because of the presence of a hydrant near Nipa.

The DIG attributed negligent driving as a probable cause for the accident.

He said that both drivers had abandoned their vehicles and managed to escape from the scene.

Meanwhile, a traffic police spokesperson in a statement said that main University Road towards Nipa Chowrangi remained closed for traffic for around three hours because of the incident.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2024