Bus-van collision near Thatta leaves 23 dead

THATTA: At least twenty-three people were killed and more than 20 sustained injuries as a result of collision between a passenger van and bus on National Highway near Thatta, Geo News reported Sunday.

The speeding passenger van, which was traveling towards Karachi from Badin collided with a bus heading for Shah Aqiq from Karachi. The dreadful accident left the van in deformed pieces scattered everywhere around the site of the mishap.

Heart wrenching scenes were witnessed at the place of accident where local people, police and emergency services got engaged in rescue and relief activities. Their work was hampered owing to the fall of darkness after dusk.

Some dead bodies and injured were stuck in the twisted pieces of van and the rescue teams had to cut the seats to retrieve them.

According to police sources, 20 passengers were inside the van while the bus carried 70 passengers.

Bodies and injured were rushed to Civil Hospital Makli where emergency has been declared. Rangers were also called in to hospital as a security measure after a large crowd arrived at the hospital.

Eight of the most seriously wounded had to be shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi whose condition is said to be critical.

DPO Thatta Muhammad Ali Wassan feared that all the passengers of the van seemed to have perished in the accident.

The accident had caused a severe traffic jam on the busy National Highway, sources added.