LAHORE, Aug 16: The death toll in the reckless driving by joy riders on independence day rose to 16 on Monday.

Police said at least 13 people, including the joy riders and three women, had been killed since Friday evening when the revellers began celebrating the independence day. They said the latest three deaths were reported on Sunday night and Monday morning.

The police said two youngsters, Maqbool Ahmad (23) and Wajahat Ali (25), were killed when their motorcycle hit a tractor-trolley while zigzagging in Sattukatla. Both of them were rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors pronounced them dead.

A 13-year-old boy was killed and his three sisters suffered injuries when a reveller hit them his motorcycle on Jail Road. The police said Usman and his sisters were trying to cross the road when Arshad Ali hit them.

They sustained injuries and were rushed to the Services Hospital. Usman died there and his sisters were under treatment till late at night. Some passers-by caught Arshad and handed him over to the police. A case was registered against him.

The bodies were returned to the families without autopsy. Meanwhile, two more people were killed in accidents in separate incidents in the city on Monday. A motorcycle-rickshaw hit a road divider in Shahdara and Sagheer Ahmad (25) on board sustained critical injuries. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died.

Amir, 28, suffered injuries when a bus hit him at Yadgar Chowk near Minar-i-Pakistan. He was rushed to hospital where he died. Both the bodies were handed over to respective families. Cases were registered against the absconding drivers.

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