Tragic Accident on Swat Motorway: 15 Dead, 8 Injured

Peshawar, Oct 16 (PTI) A tragic accident resulted in the deaths of at least 15 members of the same family and left eight others injured on Thursday when a truck overturned near a tunnel in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to rescue officials. The incident took place on the Swat Motorway in the Malakand district, a spokesperson for the Rescue 1122 emergency services reported. The victims belonged to a nomadic family from the Gibral area of Bahrain Tehsil, Swat, known for their seasonal migrations to various regions.

Upon receiving an alert, rescue services and police swiftly arrived at the scene of the accident. They transported the injured individuals and the bodies of the deceased to the District Headquarters Hospital in Batkhela. At the hospital, medical professionals confirmed the deaths of 15 individuals. Meanwhile, eight people who suffered injuries received emergency medical treatment. Four critically injured people were subsequently transferred to Swat for specialized care. Among the casualties were men, women, and children, according to rescue sources.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's newly elected Chief Minister, Muhammad Sohail Afridi, expressed deep sorrow and grief over the tragedy. He offered prayers for the eternal peace of the departed souls and extended condolences to the grieving families, wishing them patience and strength. Afridi also conveyed his hopes for the swift recovery of the injured individuals. He has instructed the relevant authorities to ensure that the injured receive the best possible medical treatment without delay.