Karachi: Women among 14 injured as speeding vehicle crashes into Muharram majlis tent

KARACHI: A speeding loading Suzuki vehicle broke through a barrier and crashed into a tent set up outside an imambargah in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase VI on Sunday night, injuring at least 14 people, mostly women, according to police and rescue officials.

The incident occurred at around 9:26pm outside Imambargah Baqiyatullah near Chhota Shahbaz Commercial in Darakshan police limits, shortly before the start of a Muharram majlis being held on the fifth day of the religious month.

Panic and initial fear of sabotage

Witnesses said panic spread immediately after the vehicle entered the tented area, as participants initially feared the incident could be a deliberate act of sabotage. A brief stampede-like situation ensued as mourners rushed to safety.

Locals present at the scene managed to detain the driver and two other occupants of the vehicle before handing them over to police. Following the incident, additional police and Rangers personnel reached the site and secured the area while rescue operations were carried out.

Injured shifted to Jinnah Hospital

All injured individuals were shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for treatment. Hospital officials confirmed that 14 people were brought in, including women and two children.

Those identified among the injured include Shazia, Maheem, Mehnaz, Zunaira, Kausar, Shehrbano, Irshad Bibi, Sumaira, Nida, Shabana, and two minors aged three years, Aayat and Daniyal, along with three unidentified women.

Several of the injured were receiving treatment for head and limb injuries, while doctors described their condition as stable.

Driver claims brake failure

Police said the driver of the Suzuki vehicle, along with the two passengers, had been taken into custody and a case had been registered.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the accident may have been caused by brake failure, according to police officials. However, authorities said no evidence of sabotage or terrorism had been found so far.

A senior police official said the vehicle reportedly lost control after hitting a barrier before entering the tented area.

Chief minister orders inquiry

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and sought a detailed report from police authorities. He directed officials to investigate the incident from all possible angles, including mechanical failure and any other potential causes, and instructed that the injured be provided with the best possible medical care.

Police said further investigation was underway to determine the exact circumstances of the crash, while security forces continued to examine the scene and gather evidence.