DADU, Aug 5: Three passengers were killed on the spot and 40 injured when a Karachi-bound passenger coach overturned and fell into a ditch near the Rahoja waterway on the Indus Highway, 34km from here, on Monday.

The coach (RIR-3939), coming from Warah, overturned due to high speed and fell into a ditch.

The deceased were identified as Ghulam Ali Chandio, 26, son of Ladho Khan, resident of Gachal village; Saddar Chandio, 37, son of Makhno, resident of Khan Sahib Ghulam Rasool village; and Gulan, 60, son of Suleman Chandio, resident of Wasai village, Khairpur Nathan Shah taluka.

Those injured were admitted in the Dadu Civil Hospital where condition of the 23 people was stated to be critical.

They were identified as Ali Murad, Gul Hasan, Ramzan, Waziran Chandio, Sakina Gaincho, Hooran Chandio, Bhagul Gaincho, Dhiani, Sarwar Chandio, Mohammad Latif Chandio, Hidayatullah Memon, Sikandar Pirzado, Gul Mohammad, Shah Nawaz, Mohammad Hussain Soomro, Anwar Chandio, Zulfiqar, Tauqeer, Seema Manganhar, Nazeeran, Shamaila, Razia Khaunharo and Irshadan Halepoto.

DEMO: A large number of the employees of the taluka municipal committee, Dadu, staged a demonstration outside the local press club on Monday against non-payment of four-month salary to the 380 employees.

Led by Arbab Thaheem, general secretary, the municipal employees’ union, the protesters were carrying banners, placards and raising slogans in favour of their demand.