By Ahsan Mughal
KARACHI: A 17-year-old student was killed in Karachi on Thursday when a high-speed water tanker ran him over, prompting local residents to set the vehicle on fire in anger.
The victim, Abid, an eleventh-grade student at Abid Usman Public High School, was on his way to school on a motorcycle near Four Chowrangi in Surjani Town when the accident occurred. Emergency services said the tanker’s driver fled the scene before authorities arrived. Firefighters later extinguished the blaze using a fire tender. Police have launched an investigation into the incident.
The tragedy highlights Pakistan’s ongoing traffic safety crisis. Rescue authorities released statistics showing that, so far this year, 806 people have died in Karachi due to road accidents, including 632 men, 81 women, 71 boys and 22 girls. In addition, 11,596 people were injured in traffic incidents, while heavy vehicles alone accounted for 244 fatalities.
Officials warned that despite administrative efforts, traffic accidents continue unabated, underscoring the urgent need for stricter enforcement of road safety measures and public awareness campaigns to prevent further loss of life.
