Five people were killed and more than 27 injured after a passenger bus plunged into a drain in Hafizabad district of Punjab on Thursday 29 October, rescue officials said.

Rescue operation at the scene

The bus was travelling from Raiwind to Chiniot when it veered off the road and fell into the drain near a flyover in the Fatehke area of Pindi Bhattian tehsil, according to Rescue 1122. Rescue officials said the accident appeared to have happened because of overspeeding, which caused the driver to lose control.

A recurring road safety problem

Rescue teams reached the scene and began recovering passengers and assisting the injured. The injured were given first aid at the site, and more than 27 people were shifted to hospital for treatment. A crane was used to pull the bus out of the drain, and rescue teams continued searching amid concerns that more passengers could be trapped under the vehicle and debris.

Further details about the victims and the condition of those hurt were not immediately available.

The crash is the latest in a series of deadly road accidents in Punjab in recent weeks. Earlier in October, 10 people were killed and 44 injured when a bus overturned after hitting a road divider on the Indus Highway in Rajanpur district, and a minibus-coach collision near Uthal in Balochistan killed 12 passengers.

Punjab Traffic Police guidelines require bus and truck drivers to observe speed limits, keep vehicles roadworthy and avoid overloading, but enforcement on intercity routes remains a persistent challenge.

Sources: Islamabad Post (DNA) and IANS via hi INDiA.