LOWER DIR: Three children, including two girls, were killed and seven others suffered injuries in a road accident in Patrak area of Upper Dir district on Tuesday.

Residents and police said that Haji Khan Bahadar of Patrak was travelling with his children and grandchildren from Patrak to Banan Khalila area when the driver lost control over the car and it fell into a deep ravine.

Rescue 1122 spokesman Mohammad Ibrahim said three children died on the spot, who were identified as Bushra, 12, Ajwa, 10, and a five-year-old boy, while Khan Bahadar along with six others was injured in the incident. He said the injured identified as Bahadar, Seema Bibi, Aroosa Bibi, Saad, Aneesa Bibi and two others, were shifted to a hospital in Patrak, and two critically injured children were referred to Peshawar.

Meanwhile, an oil tanker caught fire on the Timergara Bypass here on Monday night, injuring its driver, identified as Wahid Jan of Upper Dir, rescuers and police said.

They said the driver parked the oil tanker bound for Shandur Chitral on the road for taking rest. Meanwhile, fire broke out in the tanker due to unknown reasons.

Rescue 1122 firefighters started efforts to extinguish the fire. The flames also damaged a mini-truck and a motorcycle parked nearby and some shops. The firefighters managed to put out the blaze after two hours of hectic efforts.

According to the owner, 10,000 litres of diesel and 5,000 litres of petrol were lost.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2024