Pakistan: 19 killed, 40 injured in road collision

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan

At least 19 people were killed and dozens others injured in a head-on collision between two passenger buses in northeastern Punjab province on Sunday evening, officials and local media reported.

The collision occurred in remote Ghazi Ghat area of district Dera Ghazi Khan, located some 400 kilometer (246 miles) from provincial capital Lahore, killing at least 15 passengers and injuring another 40, state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) reported citing rescue officials.

Footage aired on local TV channels showed the ill-fated buses lying overturned and partially charred off the road with rescue workers shifting the bodies and injured in the ambulances.

Health authorities, according to the PTV, fear the death toll to rise as the condition of several injured was stated to be precarious.

Police said they were considering different factors, including over-speeding, cause of the accident.

Pakistan has had a long history of fatal road accidents, mainly because of poor implementation of safety standards.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has condoled the loss of lives in the accident, and ordered an inquiry.