BAHAWALPUR: Ten people were killed and 37 passengers were injured in two separate road accidents on Friday near Channigoth and Ahmedpur East, about 70km and 40km from here, respectively.

In the first accident, a passenger bus fell from an overhead bridge late on Thursday near Channigoth on Ahmedpur East-Rahim Yar Khan road killing eight passengers and injuring 37 seriously.

Police sources and Rescue 1122 personnel claimed the driver of the bus going from Bahawalpur to Sadigabad was driving recklessly.

While ascending an overhead bridge that had no railings, he lost control over the bus as a result of which it fell from the bridge. Six passengers died on the spot while two others succumbed to their injuries on their way to hospitals.

A state of emergency was declared at the Ahmedpur East THQ Hospital where 22 injured were shifted under the supervision of the Liaquatpur assistant commissioner, who reached the scene immediately.

Later, on receipt of information, Bahawalpur District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Akhtar Abbas Gondal rushed to the scene and supervised therescue operation.

Most of the bodies and injured had to be pulled out of the wreckage of the bus after cutting it. A large number of people from adjacent localities and villages reached the spot and helped in the rescue operation.

Some of the injured were shifted to the Liaquatpur THQ Hhospital. Another six injured were shifted to Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) where their condition was stated to be critical.

Jam Sajid, PRO of the DPO, confirmed that eight passengers had died and that the bus driver, Mushtaq, was among those in critical condition admitted to the BVH. He said a first information report under Section 302 of the PPC had been registered against Mushtaq at Tabassum Shaheed police station.

The Channigoth overhead bridge did not have railings or other safety measures due to which it witnessed frequent accidents.

The National Highway Authority (NHA) had ignored this bridge for long.

In another accident, two people were killed when a speeding tractor trolley hit a motorcycle rickshaw on BahawalpurAhmedpur East highway.

According to Rescue sources, the trolley driver managed to flee and police were investigating.