Bus and Truck Collision in Eastern Pakistan Kills 11

OPA WIRE, Nov 5 (OPA) — A passenger bus collided with a truck in eastern Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least 11 people and injuring 33 others, according to local police and rescue officials. The fatal crash took place in the Pakpattan district of Punjab province.

Rescue teams used cranes and other heavy machinery during a grueling three-hour operation to free passengers trapped inside the mangled wreckage, police reported. Local authorities declared an emergency at nearby medical facilities, summoning additional doctors and medical staff to manage the influx of casualties, said Dr. Ahmad Raza, a hospital official.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari released a statement expressing profound sorrow over the fatalities. He extended condolences to the families of the victims and wished a full and speedy recovery to those wounded in the collision.

Deadly traffic accidents remain frequent across Pakistan due to deteriorating road infrastructure, lax enforcement of traffic regulations, and widespread reckless driving practices. A similar crash last month in the southwestern province of Balochistan involved a bus and a van, resulting in 12 deaths and roughly two dozen injuries.