QUETTA: A bus carrying a wedding party fell into a ditch due to speeding, resulting in the deaths of nine people, including women and children, while 57 others were injured.
According to details, on Thursday, a bus filled with wedding guests fell into a ditch near the Hazara Graveyard on the Western Bypass in Quetta. Among the deceased were women and children, including Zeenat, daughter of Haji Rehmatullah (7-year-old), Bibi Zainab, daughter of Abdullah (3-year-old), Bibi Safia, daughter of Abdul Hamid (11-year-old), Bibi Alia, daughter of Abdul Hamid (17-year-old), Naseebullah, son of Nasrullah (35-year-old), Haji Naqeebullah, son of Haji Abdullah, Haji Naqeeb (70-year-old), Haleema (17-year-old), and Bibi Alia, daughter of Rehmatullah.
According to Civil Hospital, Quetta spokesperson Waseem Baig, seven bodies were handed over to the families from Civil Hospital, while 19 people are being treated there. BMC sources reported that 38 injured are being treated at BMC, and the death toll there was two. The bodies were handed over to the families after medico-legal formalities.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious lives in bus accident at western bypass in Quetta.
The chief minister has issued instructions to the health department to ensure immediate and better treatment to the injured persons in the bus accident.
In a condolence message, CM expressed his condolence and heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families and prayed for the early recovery of the injured persons.
The CM ordered an inquiry to ascertain the facts causing the fatal accident.
The Balochistan government has declared emergency in public hospitals and ordered to ensure better medical treatment to the injured persons.
In a statement, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind mentioned that the injured are receiving medical assistance. Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar has declared an emergency in hospitals, and orders have been issued to provide timely and quality medical care to the injured. Critically injured patients are being transferred to CMH. The government spokesperson expressed condolence to the bereaved families and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured.
It should be mentioned that the road where the accident took place has been under construction for three years. It was supposed to be completed within two years with a budget of Rs4 billion.
A local resident, Haroon Khan, said, “The dilapidated condition of the road results in such accidents. The government should prioritise its completion. Quetta is the capital, but it doesn’t look like it,” he said.