THATTA, Sept 21: Nine passengers, four children among them, died and 34 others were injured, seven of them critically, when a Thatta-bound bus overturned while ascending the Makli incline and plunged into a water ditch near Thatta town on Thursday forenoon.

The injured, most of whom belonged to Khaskheli and Burfat communities, told newsmen that soon after its departure from the hilly terrain town Thatta, the overloaded bus developed technical fault in one of its front wheels but the driver ignored it.

On reaching the Makli incline, the bus lost balance, with its defective wheel getting detached, and plunged into a roadside water ditch which resulted in the instant death of nine passengers.

Those killed were identified as Murad Jakhro, Saleem Malik, Khair Bux, Ashraf, Dost Mohammad, Ali, Mohammad Hassan, Api and a child whose identity could not immediately be ascertained.

The passengers who were critically injured were rushed to Karachi while others were being treated at the Makli Civil Hospital.

The District Nazim of Thatta, Syed Shafqat Hussain Shah Shirazi, supervised the rescue operation and announced an amount of Rs25,000 for heirs of each deceased and Rs10,000 for the injured as compensation on behalf of the district government.