Bahawalpur: At least 20 people were killed and six others injured after a sleeper bus collided with an oil tanker on M-5 Motorway, also known as Multan-Sukkur Motorway near Bahawalpur. Passenger bus was on its way from Lahore to Karachi.

Motorway officials said accident was caused by speeding. Accident took place when speeding sleeper bus went out of control and collided with an oil tanker on Multan-Sukkur Motorway, according to Motorway officials. Traffic remained suspended on accident spot at M-5 Motorway for several hours.

Oil tanker and bus caught fire soon after collision, according to spokesperson of Motorway Police. Officers of Motorway Police immediately reached spot after accident took place. Local police and rescue 1122 teams also reached spot.

According to spokesman, fire was so intense and terrifying that it was visible from a distance. Most of passengers were rescued alive from burning vehicles and were immediately transported to nearby hospitals. At least nine passengers were safely rescued from burning bus. Motorway spokesperson said that it took several hours for rescue teams to extinguish fire. On instructions of IG Khalid Mahmood, Motorway Police set up an emergency crisis centre. During rescue operation, DIG Shahid Jawad was also on spot. According to bus company sources, there were two drivers aboard bus. All staff were to be changed in Sukkur. There were 24 passengers on board two passengers were going to Hyderabad, while 22 others were going to Karachi.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 17 2022

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