LAYYAH: On a smog-filled day, 13 people were killed in road accidents in Layyah, Sheikhupura, Muzaffargarh and Kasur on Friday.

Poor visibility caused the accidents, which has been ruling the Punjab plains and cities for the last four days.

In Layyah, three students died at Chowk Azam when the motorcycle rickshaw they were riding was smashed between an oil tanker and a truck.

Eyewitnesses said the oil tanker applied brakes to avoid a parked van. The motorcycle-rickshaw following it hit the oil tanker. Meanwhile, a truck coming behind it smashed the oil tanker while the rickshaw fell sandwiched between the two heavy vehicles.

Students riding the rickshaw were crushed to death instantly. They were identified as Saqlain, 15, Muhammad Husain, 12, and Akbar, 18, of Chak 384.

Truck driver Ali Gul, 50, was shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital of Chowk Azam.

Sheikhupura

Five people were killed while three others suffered injuries in a head-on collision between a van and a bus on Gujranwala Road near Baigpur.

The deceased inluded Akram, Mushtaq and Abdul Sattar.

Muzaffargarh

Four students were killed while two others were injured in a road accident that occurred reportedly due to fog at Shehr Sultan, about 40km from here.

Six students were travelling on two motorcycles when the trailer hit them. As a result, Asghar, Farwa, Kiran and Farhan died on the spot while Faisal and Areeba were injured. The injured were shifted to the Shehr Sultan Rural Health Centre.

The police arrested the trailer driver.

Eyewitnesses said the accident occurred due to fog.

Kasur

The poor visibility caused two road crashes in Kasur wherein one man died and seven others injured.

A mini van hit a car near toll plaza on Multan Road in Pattoki, leaving van driver Rana Ahmad dead. Helper Yaseen and car riders Jamil and Ali suffered serious injuries. They were rushed to the Pattoki THQ Hospital.

A van on Adhan Road hit a rickshaw from rear side. Five rickshaw passengers Fatima Bibi, Shakeel, Zulfiqar, Ashfaq, Saleem and Rafaqat were taken to THQ Hospital.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2017