17 killed, 7 injured as truck falls into gorge on Swat Expressway

BATKHELA: As many as 17 persons, including 10 children, four women, were killed and seven others were injured when a truck plunged into a gorge near Tunnel-3 of the Swat Expressway early Thursday, officials said.

Deputy Commissioner, Malakand, Fayyaz Khan, said the accident occurred around 3:00 am when a truck, carrying members of a nomadic family, lost control apparently due to overspeeding, overturned and fell into the ravine.

He said soon after receiving information, Rescue 1122, Motorway Police, and Malakand Levies personnel rushed to the site and launched a lengthy rescue operation. After hours of effort, he said, the bodies and injured were recovered from the wreckage and shifted to Batkhela District Headquarters Hospital.

The deceased included Khush Begum, Khush Daniya Bibi, Taliraz Khan, Rohnaz Bibi, Ayan Khan, two minor daughters of Ghulam Muhammad, Javed Khan, Uzma Bibi, Jeend Khan, Inam Khan, Naveed Khan, Alishba Bibi, Sameer Khan, and a daughter of Shakoor Khan.

Those injured were identified as Bakht Zada, Fazal Rabi, Khan Muhammad, Ghulam Muhammad, truck driver Akram Khan, conductor Shamal Khan, and Reshma Bibi.