The death toll in bus-tanker accident happened on Indus Highway in Kohat has climbed to 23. According to hospital sources, some seriously injured passengers have succumbed to their injuries during the course of treatment taking the toll to 23. As many as 13 passengers have died on the spot and more than 30 sustained injuries when a Karachi bound passenger bus collided head on with an oil tanker on Indus Highway in Kohat on Saturday.
The bus have started journey from district Buner and majority of the passengers were belonging to Buner, Shangla and Mardan districts. The dead were also included two women and five children. The conditions of several injured have been stated to be critical. Rescue officials had rushed to the area and shifted the bodies and injured to Liaquat Memorial Hospital (LMH) Kohat and Kohat Development Authority (KDA) hospitals where emergency was already declared.
The dead victims have been identified as Gul Hakim son of Gulab Shah resident of Shangla, Furqan Ali son of Maroof resident of Buner, Zakanda wife of Saddar Ayub resident of Buner, Sahibzada Nazir resident of Buner, Jan Mohammad son of Mumraiz resident of Karachi, Bakht Sher son of Mast Gul resident of Buner. The names of the remaining victims could not be ascertained.
The District Police Officer (DPO) Kohat, Sohail Khalid has confirmed the death of 14 persons on the spot. According to initial investigations, the accident has been attributed to over-speeding. However, further investigations were in progress.