RAWALPINDI: Ten people were killed and over 1500 were wounded, including 691 who were seriously injured, in 1,542 road traffic accidents in Rawalpindi district in October, according to Rescue 1122.

Most of the victims of road traffic accidents were between the ages of 11 and 40 years. Among the victims, 1,294 were males and 258 were women.

Most of these road traffic accidents involved car and motorcycle riders and the causes of accidents included, speeding, careless driving, one-wheeling, wrong turns, tyre bursts, and others.

A spokesman for the emergency service released the monthly statistics for October 2024 as it had received a total of 40,971 calls on the helpline in October. Out of 40,971 calls received on the emergency helpline, 6,363 calls are related to accidents and emergencies.

One person killed in 77 fire incidents

The rescue service crew responded in time to all accidents, maintaining the average response time.

In an effort to bring down road traffic fatalities, the emergency services launched awareness programmes, training programmes in schools, colleges and other programmes.

The spokesman said 6,363 accidents and emergencies included road traffic accidents, fires, crimes, drowning, building/room collapses, gas/cylinder explosions, medical problems, and miscellaneous incidents.

In the district, 1,542 road traffic accidents, 77 fire incidents, and 111 crime incidents were reported to the Rawalpindi rescue authorities.

3,977 medically ill persons were shifted to nearby hospitals with timely first aid by the emergency staff. Rescue Rawalpindi provided timely rescue services to 5,867 persons in 6,363 accidents and emergencies.

Fire incidents

One person died in 77 fire incidents. Teams reached these incidents in time to carry out rescue operations and the firefighters brought the fire under control by taking timely action.

The timely response averted a potential loss of Rs117 million in these fire incidents. Causes of fire included shot circuits, careless use of cigarettes, gas leakage, explosion of gas cylinders, and others.

The rescue authorities have been trying to reduce fire incidents through the implementation of fire safety rules, fire safety training and other projects, its spokesman said.

In August last year, City Police Officer Khalid Hamdani had established a traffic monitoring cell at the CPO office and formed vigilance teams to check the performance of traffic police and monitor the traffic situation on the road.

The move came about after CPO Syed Khalid Hamdani swung into action when the then regional police officer (RPO) was stuck in a traffic jam near Soan while proceeding to Gujar Khan to attend the funeral of a martyred head constable. However, despite a lapse of more than one year, the traffic situation in the garrison city had not improved.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2024