At least 14 members of the same family, including women and children, lost their lives while nine others were injured after a truck plunged into a canal amid dense fog in the Gulpur area of Tehsil Kot Momin.
According to rescue officials, the tragic accident occurred in the Gulpur area of Tehsil Kot Momin in Sargodha. Fourteen people died on the spot, while nine others sustained injuries, three of them reported to be in serious condition.
Rescue teams later recovered more bodies trapped under the overturned truck, confirming the death toll at 14.
Rescue sources confirmed that all the deceased belonged to the same family from the Khanuana area of Faisalabad. The family was returning home after attending the funeral of a close relative in Islamabad.
Police said five children were among those who lost their lives, deepening the tragedy for the bereaved family.
Fog forces truck onto alternative route
Rescue officials said the motorway was closed due to heavy fog, forcing the truck to take an alternative local route via Kot Momin to reach Faisalabad. Near the Gulpur bridge, visibility dropped sharply because of dense fog.
Due to poor visibility, the driver lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road and fell into a canal.
According to rescue authorities, the canal had little to no water at the time of the accident. As a result, the truck fell directly onto the canal bed, leading to a severe impact and widespread casualties.
A total of 23 people were on board the truck when the accident occurred.
Deceased and injured identified
Police identified the deceased as Misri Khan, Halima Bibi, Yasin, Sonia Bibi, Pathan Bibi, Haniya, Iman Fatima, Rani Bibi, Haris, Waseem, Noreen, Saqlain, Huram and Amina. All were residents of the Khanuana area of Faisalabad.
Among the seriously injured women are Shamim, Parveen, Nazia Bibi and another woman. Those with minor injuries include Hasnain, Zaheer, Mumtaz, Kashif and Nadeem Abbas.
Rescue officials said five injured persons were shifted to Kot Momin THQ Hospital, while others were transferred to DHQ Hospital for treatment. Medical assistance was provided immediately after the rescue operation.
Dr Mehrban, MS at THQ Kot Momin, confirmed that three injured patients were in critical condition, while others suffered minor injuries.
Rescue operation completed
Rescue teams and police reached the scene soon after receiving information about the accident. The rescue operation has been completed, and authorities say further investigation into the incident is underway.
Officials reiterated that fog-related accidents have increased across Punjab, urging drivers to exercise extreme caution during poor visibility conditions.
