KARACHI: Five members of a family were killed late Sunday night after their vehicle fell in a construction pit in the upscale Bahria Town Karachi (BTK) housing society off the Super Highway.
Among those killed include 45-year-old civil engineer Ahmer Sharif, his 40-year-old wife Saima and his his teenage son Abdullah. Sharif’s sister, 48-year-old Fehmida, and her two children, 21-year-old Abeeha and teenager Hammad were also in the vehicle. Both Fehmida and her son Hammad were also killed while the daughter was taken to the Liaquat Medical Hospital with severe injuries.
Initial reports suggested that the deceased family were residents of the nearby Malir Halt area who were visiting the housing society for recreational purposes. Later, it was reported that the family were residents of the Precinct 31 of the same housing society.
Following the incident, rescue services shifted the bodies to the Bahria Town Hospital and later to the Edhi mortuary on Sohrab Goth. From there, the bodies were handed over to the heirs for last rites.
The accident took place in Precint 27 of Bahria Town, according to one Facebook group of residents of the housing society boasting 31,000 members.
According to police, the initial investigation suggests that the accident occurred due to speeding, with the vehicle falling into the pit of the under-construction building.
Ahmer’s friend Buland Khan told Aaj Digital that the accident occured due a lack of diversion on the road. “There were no lights or reflectors either to warn on-coming vehicles about the dangers,” he said, adding that the accident occured as the driver was unable to spot the pit.
User Maha Mehmood posted that the accident occured near the Eastern Service Road, with the car involved being a Daihatsu Mira.
Some commenters on the post blamed the administration of the housing society for the incident.
“They should have blocked the road if they were digging,” wrote one member of the group.
Others questioned the lack of adequate warning and lighting at the site of the construction pit.
Several pointed out that joy riders and thrill seekers often head to Bahria Town and do not observe traffic regulations that lead to such accidents.
One comment Bilal Ahmed wrote that the administration could not be blamed for such incidents. “When people see clean and clear roads, they tend to overspeed. This is what causes accidents.”
Spread over 46,000 acres, BTK is the largest privately-owned housing society in the country. It has a network of pristine roads and multiple landmarks and sites that attract visitors.
