Four die in bus crash while heading to shrine in Punjab

On April 12, 2025, a tragic accident occurred in Punjab, Pakistan, when a bus carrying 45 pilgrims crashed into a tree near Rangpur, approximately 35 kilometers from Muzaffargarh. The pilgrims were en route to the shrine of Hazrat Sultan Bahu, a revered Sufi saint and Punjabi poet. The numbing impact of the crash resulted in the immediate deaths of four passengers identified as Mohammed Hussain, Zulfiqar, Ahmed Raza, and Abdul Ghaffar, all of whom perished at the scene. Rescue 1122 officials swiftly arrived at the site following the alarm raised by local residents and transported the 27 injured individuals to various hospitals for medical treatment. The majority of the injured were taken to either the Rangpur Rural Health Centre or Ahmedpur Sial Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, with some opting to reach hospitals independently. This calamitous incident has left the local community in a state of shock and mourning for the lives lost and the suffering endured by the survivors. Following the accident, traffic along the Rangpur Road was halted for a time as authorities worked to manage the situation. The police later restored order on the road, allowing normal traffic flow to resume. This event has heightened concerns about road safety and the transportation of pilgrims, amplifying the ongoing dialogue around the planning and management of such communal travel, especially in regions known for high traffic accidents. The severity of the incident underlines the broader issues of road safety protocols in the area and raises questions about the enforcement of traffic laws in Punjab as the community grapples with this loss.