434 Killed, Over 23,000 Seriously Injured in Punjab Road Accidents During May

Road accidents continued to pose a major public safety challenge across Punjab, with at least 434 people losing their lives and more than 23,000 suffering serious injuries in traffic crashes during May, according to data released by the Emergency Services Department (Rescue 1122).

The figures were presented during a provincial review meeting chaired by Rescue 1122 Secretary Dr Rizwan Naseer on Monday. Officials briefed the meeting that emergency teams responded to 235,522 incidents across Punjab during the month, rescuing a total of 236,593 victims.

According to the report, Punjab witnessed 43,160 road traffic accidents in May, making road crashes one of the leading causes of emergencies handled by Rescue 1122. Authorities expressed concern over the continued rise in traffic-related casualties, particularly those involving motorcycles.

Lahore recorded the highest number of road accidents, with 7,766 crashes reported during the month. More than 8,600 motorcycles were involved in these incidents, highlighting the vulnerability of two-wheeler riders on urban roads. Faisalabad reported 2,838 accidents, followed by Multan with 2,793, Gujranwala with 2,312, and Sheikhupura with 1,578 crashes. Murree reported the lowest number of accidents, recording 158 incidents.

Officials noted that motorcycles remained the most common vehicles involved in road crashes across Punjab, a trend that has persisted in recent years due to reckless driving, speeding, failure to wear helmets, and violations of traffic rules.

Apart from road accidents, Rescue 1122 also responded to a wide range of medical and rescue emergencies. The department handled 44,024 cardiovascular cases, 38,977 gastrointestinal emergencies, 19,585 respiratory cases, and 18,071 neurological emergencies. Thousands of other incidents related to fever, diabetes, crime, fire outbreaks, and psychosocial emergencies were also reported.

The report further revealed that Rescue 1122 dealt with 9,855 fire and rescue incidents during the month. Lahore once again topped the list with 760 fire emergencies, followed by Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Multan, and Sialkot.

Addressing the meeting, Dr Rizwan Naseer emphasized the need for stricter road safety measures, public awareness campaigns, and greater compliance with traffic laws to reduce the growing number of accidents. He urged motorists, particularly motorcycle riders, to wear helmets, avoid speeding, and follow traffic regulations.

The Rescue 1122 chief also advised citizens to take precautionary measures during the ongoing heatwave. He urged the public to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, and exercise caution while visiting rivers, canals, and other recreational water sites to prevent drowning incidents.

According to road safety experts, Pakistan continues to face significant challenges in reducing traffic fatalities due to rapid urbanization, increasing vehicle numbers, inadequate road safety awareness, and poor compliance with traffic laws. They stress that stronger enforcement and public education campaigns are essential to improving road safety across the province.