On Saturday, two separate bus accidents involving pilgrims traveling to the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine claimed 16 lives and left 25 others injured near Khairpur and Qazi Ahmed.
In the first incident, a passenger bus carrying pilgrims from Punjab overturned on the National Highway near Khairpur's Ranipur area, killing 10 and injuring 15 people. Police officials attributed the accident to overspeeding.
The second accident occurred on Qazi Ahmed Amri Road, where a vehicle carrying pilgrims from Burewala, Punjab, crashed, resulting in six fatalities and 10 injuries. All victims were traveling to participate in the annual Urs festival at the shrine.
Emergency services transported the injured from the Rani Pur accident to hospitals in Gambat and other local facilities. Meanwhile, casualties from the Qazi Ahmed incident were taken to Tehsil Hospital Qazi Ahmed, where doctors referred eight critically injured patients to PMU Hospital Nawabshah.
Local authorities confirmed that both groups were heading to Sehwan Sharif for the annual Urs celebrations of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, a significant religious festival that draws thousands of pilgrims from across Pakistan.
The police have initiated investigations into both incidents, with preliminary reports indicating speed as a contributing factor in at least one of the accidents.
These incidents highlight ongoing concerns about road safety during major religious gatherings in the region, particularly along the routes leading to Sehwan Sharif.
[Note: This article combines multiple reports into a coherent narrative while maintaining journalistic standards and expressing appropriate gravity for the tragic events.]
