Passenger van collides with UVAS bus during overtaking attempt
JHANG: At least 14 people were killed and 29 others injured in a tragic road accident on the Faisalabad Road near Quli Faqeer Stop on Thursday after a speeding passenger van collided head-on with a bus belonging to the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS).
How the Accident Occurred
According to police, the passenger van was travelling from Faisalabad to Jhang when its driver attempted to overtake a tractor-trolley loaded with sugarcane. During the manoeuvre, the van swerved into the opposite lane and slammed into an oncoming university bus.
The UVAS bus was transporting students to Lahore to participate in a sports gala.
Casualties and Rescue Operation
The impact of the collision was severe, leaving nine people dead at the scene, while 29 others sustained injuries, including three in critical condition.
Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the spot, provided first aid, and shifted the injured to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital. Five more injured passengers later succumbed to their wounds at the hospital, raising the death toll to 14.
Officials Visit Site
Deputy Commissioner Ali Akbar and District Police Officer Bilal Iftikhar reached the accident site shortly after receiving information and directed health authorities to ensure immediate and effective medical care for the injured.
Chief Minister Takes Notice
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif took notice of the incident and sought a detailed report from the district administration. She directed the deputy commissioner to personally monitor the treatment of the injured and ensure the provision of all possible medical facilities.
Victims Identified
Police identified the deceased as Ali Haider (van driver), Faizan, Muhammad Rafiq, Sami Anjum, Rubia, her two-year-old son Muhammad Musa, Kishwar Bibi, Barkat, Abdul Rasheed, his wife Shehnaz Bibi, and Sultan Ahmed.
Investigation Underway
Police have launched an investigation into the incident, while eyewitnesses attributed the crash to over-speeding and reckless overtaking.