9 killed, 30 hurt in bus, oil tanker collision on Pakistani highway

ISLAMABAD — Pakistani police said a passenger bus has collided head on with an oil tanker on an inter-city highway, killing nine people and injuring 30 others on Monday.

A police officer said the accident took place near the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Abdus Shakoor said the bus was on its way back to Narowal district early on Monday carrying people who had visited a shrine in Islamabad.

He said the bus driver attempted to overtake another vehicle, then collided with the tanker on a bridge in the Gujjar Khan area.

Shakoor said seven of the passengers, including women and children, died on the spot while two others died at a hospital.

Deadly road accidents are common on Pakistan’s poorly maintained roads where motorists commonly disregard traffic rules and safety standards.   /kga