At least four people lost their lives and 26 others sustained injuries when a passenger bus collided with a truck loaded with mangoes on the M5 Motorway near Iqbalabad in Rahim Yar Khan in the early hours of Wednesday.
According to Rescue 1122 officials, the collision occurred when the driver of the bus, which was en route from Karachi to Pakpattan, allegedly fell asleep at the wheel, causing the vehicle to veer into the truck’s path. The crash resulted in severe damage to both vehicles.
Rescue teams, with the assistance of motorway police, reached the scene soon after the accident was reported. Ten individuals with minor injuries were administered first aid at the site, while 16 others were shifted to nearby hospitals for further medical treatment.
A Rescue 1122 spokesperson confirmed that the deceased and injured were among the passengers of the bus. The identification process of the deceased is currently underway, and authorities are in the process of notifying the families.
Police and motorway officials cordoned off the area, collected evidence from the scene, and diverted traffic to alternative routes to ensure a smooth flow on the motorway.
Preliminary investigations suggest the primary cause of the accident was driver fatigue and negligence. Authorities have launched a formal inquiry into the incident.