The Balochistan government on Tuesday announced Rs10 million in compensation for the families of the victims of the Bela bus accident that left at least 27 people dead and several others injured a day earlier.
Provincial minister Mir Asadullah Baloch announced that Rs10m will be distributed among the families of those killed in the tragedy and another Rs5m will be given to those injured in the accident.
He revealed that 24 bodies will be buried in Panjgur after collective funeral prayers. “The arrangements are being finalised,” he told journalists in Hub area.
The minister vowed that the government will hold a thorough probe into the tragedy. The Balochistan home department constituted an inquiry committee to investigate the deadly incident. According to a notification, the five-member committee will determine the cause of the accident, assign responsibility and recommend measures to avoid such incidents in the future. The panel, chaired by the commissioner of the Kalat division, will submit its report within seven days.
The bus belonging to Jehanzeb Coach Service had left Karachi in the evening on Monday and met with the accident a few hours later near Lasbela Cross, around three kilometres from Bela City. The ill-fated bus had collided with a truck near Lasbela and caught fire. The fire destroyed both the vehicles. Initially, 25 bodies were recovered from the bus and one from the truck, whereas one of the injured succumbed to his burn injuries. At least 12 people sustained severe wounds among whom six were shifted to Karachi and remaining to Quetta in critical condition. Two other victims succumbed during treatment at hospital. Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Jam Kamal Khan directed Health Department to provide the best health facilities to the injured. He also ordered the concerned administration to submit report of the accident. Deputy Commissioner of Lasbela, Shabbir Mengal told that fire erupted in the bus has been extinguished. Late on Monday evening, a case was registered against the driver and owner of the bus. Police registered the case under charges of murder and criminal negligence. The FIR said that the bus went out of control and collided with a truck after one of its tyres burst. Sources say that the bus caught fire due to Iranian diesel filled in it secret compartments for smuggling. They said the bus had only one door that made it difficult for the passengers to come out.
Published in Daily Times, January 23rd 2019.
