At least 14 people were killed and 16 others injured in a deadly head-on collision between a bus carrying university athletes and a van on the Jhang–Faisalabad road near the Adda Faqeer Di Kulli area on Wednesday.

According to rescue officials, the bus was transporting players from the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences to Lahore, where they were scheduled to participate in various sporting events. The crash occurred when both vehicles were reportedly traveling at high speed. Preliminary investigations suggest the accident happened as one vehicle attempted to overtake while the other was crossing a sugarcane-laden tractor trolley.

Rescue 1122 officials said nine passengers died at the scene due to the severity of the impact. Five others later succumbed to their injuries either while being transported to or after reaching the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Jhang.

Emergency responders, police, and district administration teams rushed to the site immediately after the crash. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals, where several remain under treatment.

Deputy Commissioner Ali Akbar Bhinder and District Police Officer (DPO) Bilal Iftikhar Kiani visited both the accident site and the hospital. They supervised the rescue and relief operations and directed authorities to ensure the injured receive proper medical care.

An investigation has been launched to determine the exact circumstances of the collision, while officials reiterated calls for stricter adherence to traffic rules to prevent such tragic incidents. (ILKHA)