Karachi witnessed a grim beginning of the New Year with an escalating number of Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs), leaving over 20 killed and over 200 injured within the first 10 days of January.
At least 23 people lost their lives, including 18 men, two women, and five minors, in these fatal traffic accidents.
Statistics collected from rescue sources revealed a notable surge in road traffic accidents in Karachi.
These accidents were primarily attributed to the negligence of heavy traffic drivers, msotly claiming the lives of motorcyclists.
It is pertinent to mention here that from 6am to 11pm, the movement of heavy traffic in Karachi was banned from 6am to 11pm. However, a majority number of these accidents involved heavy traffic, particularly in the morning hours.
Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori expressed concern over the increasing number of accidents and instructed Inspector General Sindh Police, Ghulam Nabi Memon, to take action against those who operate heavy traffic on the road before 6:00 am.
“These tankers are a menace to our city, claiming innocent lives, which is a matter of grave concern,” he said in a statement.
By December 2024, RTAs had claimed the lives of 771 individuals, while injuring 8,140 across Karachi, according to data provided by the Chhipa Foundation.
The Chhipa report revealed that January recorded the highest number of accidents with 69, followed by 51 in February and 32 in March. April saw 51 accidents, and May witnessed 39.
The number of accidents continued to fluctuate throughout the year, with 59 reported in June, 26 in July, and 33 in August.
