Speeding dumper crushes eight schoolchildren, three killed

ABBOTTABAD: A speeding dumper ran over eight schoolchildren near the FBR office in front of the Lady Garden in Abbottabad on Friday morning.

According to initial reports, three children died on the spot while five sustained critical injuries.

Eyewitnesses said the children were crossing the road on their way to school when the dumper suddenly appeared and hit them. The incident happened so quickly that neither the children nor the bystanders had time to react.

Rescue 1122 confirmed that the bodies and injured children were shifted to DHQ Hospital.

According to Rescue 1122 Abbottabad, those killed in the dumper accident included 10-year-old Rehan, 14-year-old Manal and 13-year-old Saud.

Among the five injured children were 5-year-old Urwa, 13-year-old Sawera, 15-year-old Yashfa and 11-year-old Ehtesham.

The children who lost their lives in the tragic accident belonged to Banda Phagwaran.

UNICEF warns of rising school dropouts as Pakistan misses enrolment targets

Police officials said the dumper driver fled the scene, but efforts are underway to trace and arrest him.

Deputy Commissioner Abbottabad expressed grief over the incident and directed hospital staff to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured. He also ordered the police to form search parties to apprehend the driver.

Following the incident, enraged protesters blocked the Karakoram Highway for all kinds of traffic and demanded the immediate arrest of the dumper driver.

Police have registered a case against the driver and formed a special team for his arrest. After successful negotiations, the protesters reopened the road.

The families have taken the bodies of the children from the hospital to their native area. The accident occurred due to the movement of dumpers during school hours.

Pakistan has seen a troubling rise in dumper-related accidents, with Karachi standing out as the worst hit. In 2024 alone, heavy vehicles including dumpers and water tankers claimed nearly 500 lives and left 4,879 injured, according to hospital data.

Most incidents occurred due to reckless speeding, which often causes drivers to lose control. Citizens blame weak enforcement and poor oversight by the administration for the growing number of deadly crashes.