Sargodha/Gwadar, January 17, 2026: At least 24 people were killed and more than 50 others injured in two separate road accidents on Saturday, as a truck plunged into a dry canal in Punjab’s Sargodha district and a passenger coach overturned near Ormara in Balochistan.
In the first incident, 14 people were killed and nine others injured when a truck carrying cargo and passengers fell into a canal from the Galapur Bangla bridge in the Kot Momin area of Sargodha due to dense fog, officials from Rescue 1122 said.
According to rescue officials, the accident occurred when thick fog severely reduced visibility, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The truck plunged into the Galapur Bangla canal, which was dry at the time of the incident. The vehicle was carrying 23 passengers, of whom seven were crushed under the truck and died on the spot.
Rescue teams reached the site promptly and launched an emergency operation. The injured and the bodies of the deceased were shifted to a nearby THQ Hospital, where seven more passengers succumbed to their injuries during treatment. The deceased included six children and five women. Officials said the passengers were travelling to attend a funeral.
Authorities noted that much of Punjab is currently experiencing dense fog, significantly reducing visibility on roads during winter mornings and nights. Motorists have been urged to slow down and exercise extreme caution to avoid accidents in foggy conditions.
In a separate incident in Balochistan, at least 10 people were killed and 45 others injured when a passenger coach overturned near Hud Goth, close to Ormara in Gwadar district, police said. The coach, carrying around 50 passengers, was travelling from Karachi to Gwadar when it reportedly lost control due to overspeeding and flipped over.
Following the accident, Pakistan Army rescue teams reached the site and assisted in evacuating the deceased and injured. The bodies and critically injured passengers were transported to hospitals with the help of Pakistan Navy and rescue ambulances, and taken to the PNS Darmanjah Naval Base.
Officials said that critically injured passengers are being airlifted to Karachi via Pakistan Navy ATR aircraft for advanced medical treatment.
Authorities have launched investigations into both incidents and reiterated the need for strict adherence to traffic rules, especially during adverse weather conditions and on long-distance routes.
