A truck carrying pilgrims heading towards Shah Noorani Dargah crashed into a ravine in Khuzdar, Balochistan, the death toll has risen to 18, while over 50 people were injured in the incident.
Karim Baksh, the truck driver who was also injured, was taken into custody by police, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Sakro Wajid Ali said while speaking with journalists outside the Edhi morgue in Karachi’s Sohrab Goth.
The police official confirmed the number of dead passengers, adding that the incident occurred at a turn during the drive. SDPO Sakro said: “More than 70 people had left for the pilgrimage from Makli’s Qasim Jokhio village.”
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who visited the Civil Hospital’s Trauma Centre to meet with the injured passengers, earlier confirmed 17 deaths, adding that at least 52 injured were brought to the hospital of which 40 were discharged.
“Five injured in the Trauma Center are on ventilators. As long as the injured are on the vent, their health will be critical,” he said.
CM Murad added that two injured children are also under treatment at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH).
“All efforts will be made to provide the best medical facilities to the injured.”
