LAHORE: As many as 33 people reportedly died and over 5,500 others injured in 4,677 road accidents all over Punjab during three Eid days.

Most deaths and injuries were reported on Aug 14 when citizens including young men resorted to wheelie across Punjab to observe Independence Day.

According to the report released by Punjab Emergency Service on Thursday, 80 per cent of the total deaths and injuries were of bikers.

It stated that of total deaths, 15 occurred in various accidents on Independence Day. Similarly, out of total victims, 2,048 were injured the same day.

The report further stated that most accidents – 915 – occurred in the provincial capital Lahore during the three days of Eidul Azha.

The police experts believed that one of the major reasons behind fatal and other accidents was rash driving to reach destinations in a hurry.

They said bike driving without safety measures like helmets and violation of traffic signals were other reasons besides driving by teens and untrained drivers.

They said the prime role in high accident rate was of parents who allowed their kids to take vehicles to roads.

Similarly, they said, the dangerous trend of wheelie, skidding, fast driving and other stunts by young men on motorbikes was another main reason for accidents.

Rescue 1122 also responded to 77 fire incidents in Punjab during these days with most of them reported in Lahore.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2019