17 killed in road accidents in Pakistan

Karachi, June 28: At least 17 people including five of a same family have been killed in two separate road accidents in Pakistan's Sindh and Balochistan provinces.

The first incident reported from the southwest Balochistan province late last night where 12 people were killed and 29 others injured when the passenger bus they were travelling in fell into a gorge near Khuzdar city.

The bus was negotiating a sharp turn when it overturned some 40 kilometres away from Khuzdar city. Police and rescue officials were rushed to the spot to carry out relief and rescue operation. All the 29 injured were rushed to nearby hospitals.

The second accident took place yesterday in the Southeast Sindh province where a dumper fell on a coaster van near Hala area, killing five persons of the same family.

Balochistan has witnessed several major traffic accidents in the recent past. At least 35 people were killed in March 2014 in a collision between two passenger buses and a petrol tanker near Hub area, with many of the victims being burned alive.

Another 11 people were killed and more than 24 others sustained injuries in October, 2014 when a passenger coach collided with a truck in Lasbela district.

PTI