Karachi: Nine picnickers belonging to the same locality of Karachi lost their lives when a van in which they were travelling collided with a truck on the National Highway in the Thatta area of Sindh.
The ill-fated passengers from Karachi went during Eid AL Ftr holiday to the Keenjhar Lake in Thatta district, a popular recreational spot in lower Sindh.
A large number of people from Karachi use rented vehicles to visit the lake for recreation on holidays and festive occasions.
The victims belonged to Qazafi Town in the Landhi area in the suburbs of Karachi.
The collision occurred near Chalia area in Thatta District. The van was completely destroyed in the accident.
According to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Adeel Chandio, preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of the truck was responsible for the accident.
The accused fled the scene after the accident. The police later apprehended him. The driver is stated to have possessed a learner’s driving licence.
The bodies of the victims were initially taken to the Makli Hospital in Thatta for the completion of the formalities.
Later, they were transferred to the morgue of the Edhi Welfare Trust in Sohrab Goth area of Karachi to be handed over to the respective bereaved families after identification.
The victims were aged between 24 and 40.
Sindh Governor, Kamran Khan Tessori, while expressing grief over the loss of precious lives in the accident, asked the officials concerned to provide every possible assistance to the bereaved families.
Tessori directed Hyderabad’s Commissioner to inquire into the incident and submit to him an investigation report.
Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, also ordered the officials concerned to impose emergency in the hospitals of Thatta after the tragic accident.
