LAHORE:
At least 44 people were killed and more than 5,400 injured in road traffic accidents across Punjab during the first two days of Eid.
Official figures show that 23 people lost their lives and 2,792 were injured in 2,206 accidents on Saturday. On the following day, 21 fatalities were reported in 2,087 road crashes, with 2,643 people suffering injuries.
The two-day figure stood at 4,293 road accidents, resulting in 44 deaths and 5,435 injuries across the province, highlighting a spike in road mishaps during the festive period.
Rescue officials said that on the second day, 1,230 critically injured victims were shifted to hospitals, while 1,413 others with minor injuries were treated at the sites of accidents.
A similar pattern had been observed on Eid day, where a large number of victims received first aid at the spots, easing pressure on emergency departments.
The provincial capital remained the most-affected city on both days, reporting 322 accidents each day. These incidents collectively injured more than 800 people and caused at least three fatalities in the city.
Other major urban centres, including Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala, also recorded significant numbers of accidents, reflecting increased mobility and traffic congestion during Eid celebrations.
An analysis of the data indicates that motorcyclists were the most vulnerable group, with around 84 per cent of accidents involving motorcycles. Rescue officials noted that reckless driving, speeding, and violations of other traffic rules were among the leading causes of crashes.
