Eight people were injured on Sunday in fog-related accidents in separate incidents. Ninety-three goats and sheep were killed when a truck collided with a tractor-trolley.
Rescue officials said that a boy and his sister, both residents of Qasba Lalyani, were injured when the motorcycle they were riding collided with a van near Commerce College on Kot Momin Road. Passers-by took them to the tehsil headquarters hospital, where they were said to be in critical condition. The injured, identified as Wajahat and Areeba, were students of class eight and six, respectively.
In another incident, a man, identified as Muhammad Saleem, his wife Sajida Bibi and son Ali Abbas, 14, were injured when their motorcycle collided with a tractor-trolley on Farokah-Noshera Road. They were taken to a hospital, from where Abbas was sent to the Sargodha DHQ hospital in critical condition.
Elsewhere, a truck carrying 250 cattle over-turned on Jhang-Bhakkar Road while trying to avoid a tractor-trolley. Ninety-three goats and sheep were killed. Truck driver Tasawwur Hussain was injured and given first aid on the spot. Rescue officials said the tractor-trolley’s headlights were not working. They said the truck was badly damaged and that it was a miracle that the driver survived.
Cattle owner Rustam Khan of Dera Ismail Khan estimated the losses at Rs600,000.
In Daska, two motorcycle riders were injured when a speeding bus hit a motorcycle. The motorcyclists, Muhammad Khalid and Muhammad Siddique of Galotian Khurd village, were on their way to Gujranwala, when a bus hit them near Musalmanian village.
They were taken to Civil Hospital, where they were reported to be in critical condition.
Police said a case was registered against the bus driver, who fled the scene.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2013.