Sehwan toll plaza accident kills 20, including 12 children

SEHWAN: At least 20 passengers, including 12 children, were killed and 13 others injured as their bus plunged into a water-filled ditch near the Sehwan toll plaza on the Indus Highway on Thursday.

Bodies and the wounded have been shifted to the Abdullah Shah Institute of Medical Sciences Sehwan. According to SSP Imran Qureshi, at least 20 people were killed and 13 others injured in the mishap. 

Dr. Moeen Siddiqui, Director of the Abdullah Shah Institute of Medical Sciences, Sehwan confirmed that the deceased included eight women, six boys, and as many girls, all aged 10 to 15 years. Two of the injured are critical, he said.

Deputy Commissioner Jamshoro Farid-Uddin Mustafa said that 33 passengers were on board the ill-fated van. Twenty passengers lost their lives when the van plunged into the ditch, he said, adding that 13 passengers were rescued alive.

Police said that the Indus Highway was dredged at different points to drain  out floodwater. However, the road cavities have not been filled so far, even after two months. 

The catastrophic flooding — which put a third of Pakistan underwater and displaced eight million of the country's population — are yet another hurdle affectees struggle to overcome.