MUZAFFARGARH, Feb 24: Five people died and 26 others were injured when two wagons collided head-on on Multan-Muzaffargarh Road on Saturday.

The collusion occurred near Mahmood Textile Mills where a dozen of tractor trolleys laden with sugarcanes were parked along the road thus creating visibility problem for the drivers.

The accident left three people, including two women teachers, dead instantly while 26 people were injured and removed to the Muzaffargarh district headquarters hospital.

DHQ doctors referred 10 patients to Nishtar Hospital in Multan but two patients died on way to Multan. Among the dead, Zaibunnissa and Shazia were colleague.

When Dawn correspondent visited the DHQ Hospital, one pathologist was treating 26 patients and no other medical officer was present in the hospital. No woman doctor came to treat the women patients even after three hours of the accident. Since one doctor was not enough to handle 26 patients, 10 patients were referred to the Nishtar Hospital and others were being treated by paramedics.

One injured, Aslam, said that someone had stolen money and other valuables from his pockets in the hospital.

Other patients complained that only paramedics were treating them. Dr Abdul Qavi, the only on duty doctor, said that he was not aware of any theft in the hospital.