KASUR: Eight people of a family died while two suffered critical injuries as their mini-van plunged into Rohi Nullah on the Raiwind Road near Khara Mor on Friday in the limits of Saddar Police Station.

The family was coming back home to Bhatta Sohandin locality from Raiwind after attending a wedding.

According to Rescue 1122, 10 members of a Christian family were riding in a van which fell into Naul Rohi Nullah near Khara Mor, some 10km from here on the night between Thursday and Friday (3:45 am). Rescuers took out eight bodies and two injured from the van. Police shifted the bodies and the injured to the DHQ Hospital. The condition of the injured was stated to be critical.

All the eight people who lost their lives and suffered injuries were of the age group between 30 to 40. The deceased were identified as Khalil, Saleem, Imran, Maqsood, Sohni, Cornelius, Sunny and Talha whereas the injured were Sajid and driver Shakeel.

According to Rescue 1122, the incident took place as the driver fell asleep while driving.

On the other hand, Saddar police blamed the driver, Shakeel, and lodged a criminal case.

However, a large number of locals, in the morning, gathered at the site of the accident.

They blamed the administration for its failure to install any fence or erect a wall to bifurcate a 20 feet deep Nullah and the road.

The people told Dawn said that a bridge was recently built across the drain but was left without any fence which was causing frequent accidents. They blamed the administration for negligence, putting lives and limbs of the road users at risk.