By Dr. Ansab Ali | Lahore, Pakistan

LAHORE: At least 13 people were killed and 1,513 others injured in 1,312 road traffic crashes reported across Punjab during the past 24 hours, according to the Emergency Services Department (ESD).

The department said 688 critically injured victims were shifted to hospitals for treatment, while 825 people with minor injuries received first aid at the scene from Rescue 1122 medical teams, reducing the burden on healthcare facilities.

According to the ESD, motorcycles were involved in nearly 80 percent of all crashes, underscoring the urgent need for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, improved lane discipline and enhanced road safety measures.

The analysis showed that 866 drivers, 59 underage drivers, 181 pedestrians and 479 passengers were among those affected by the accidents.

Lahore recorded the highest number of road traffic crashes, with 215 incidents affecting 261 people. It was followed by Multan, where 95 crashes left 115 people injured, while Gujranwala ranked third with 69 accidents involving 74 victims.

Of the 1,513 victims, 1,257 were male and 269 were female. The age-wise breakdown showed that 340 victims were under the age of 18, 759 were between 18 and 40 years, while 427 were over the age of 40.

The report further revealed that the crashes involved 1,365 motorcycles, 105 auto-rickshaws, 144 cars, 27 vans, seven passenger buses, 45 trucks, and 68 other vehicles and slow-moving carts.

The Emergency Services Department urged road users to strictly observe traffic regulations, wear safety gear, avoid underage driving and practice responsible driving to help reduce the growing number of road accidents across the province.