At least 24 people lost their lives, and dozens were injured in two separate road accidents on Saturday, highlighting the persistent dangers of winter travel in Pakistan.
In Punjab’s Sargodha district, 14 people were killed and nine others injured when a truck carrying 23 passengers and cargo fell into the dry Galapur Bangla canal. Rescue 1122 officials said the truck, en route from Islamabad to Faisalabad for a funeral, lost control due to dense fog in Kot Momin, which severely reduced visibility. Seven passengers were crushed under the vehicle at the scene, while others succumbed to injuries after being rushed to the nearby Tehsil Headquarters Hospital. The victims included six children and five women.
“Due to heavy fog, the motorway was closed, forcing the driver to take a local route. Poor visibility caused the vehicle to plunge from the bridge,” said a statement from Rescue 1122. Emergency teams quickly reached the site to retrieve the injured and deceased. Authorities warned motorists to drive cautiously amid dense fog, which has caused multiple accidents across Punjab this winter, including collisions on major motorways and highways.
In a separate incident in Balochistan, at least 10 people were killed, and 45 were injured when a passenger coach overturned near Hudd Goth on the Makran Coastal Highway while travelling from Karachi to Gwadar. The vehicle reportedly lost control due to high speed. Pakistan Army and Navy rescue teams airlifted critically injured passengers to Karachi and transported the deceased to PNS Darmanjah Naval Base for burial. Victims hailed from various parts of Sindh and were reportedly travelling to Jiwani for work.
Fatal road accidents remain a frequent occurrence in Pakistan, often caused by overspeeding, hazardous overtaking, and poor adherence to traffic rules. Authorities continue to urge drivers to exercise caution, especially during foggy winter mornings and nights.