KARACHI: Karachi’s roads claimed yet another life this week, pushing this year’s tragic death count from traffic accidents to a staggering 138 — and it’s only June.
The latest victim, Muhammad Fasih, was riding his motorcycle near Future Mor in Landhi when he was hit by a water tanker. Instead of stopping, the driver abandoned the tanker and ran off, according to police. Officers later tracked him down and confirmed he’s now under arrest.
Sadly, this is just the latest in a string of horrific accidents that have left families devastated. Just last week, on June 19, a sand-loaded dumper truck flipped over onto a small car near Drigh Road around 3 in the morning. Witnesses say two dumpers were racing each other when one lost control — crushing the car and killing a woman and a child inside. Two more people were rushed to the hospital, badly hurt.
And if that wasn’t enough, May 31 saw five more lives lost in separate crashes, including a beloved college professor.
Residents are fed up. They say reckless dumper and heavy truck drivers barrel through the city with little fear of punishment. Authorities have promised stricter crackdowns, but many Karachiites feel it’s too little, too late.
Senior police officers, including Karachi’s Additional IG Javed Alam Odho, admit the city’s constant construction work only makes things worse, clogging up roads and making accidents more likely. He’s called on the Transport Department to step up and help sort out the mess before more lives are lost.
For now, families are left mourning — and commuters are left wondering if they’ll get home safely each time they hit the road.