KARACHI: A motorcyclist was injured late at night near Powerhouse Chowrangi in North Karachi after being hit by a speeding dumper truck. In an attempt to flee the scene, the dumper driver ran over two more motorcycles, though no fatalities were reported. The incident sparked public outrage, leading to the burning of five dumper trucks and four water tankers by enraged locals.
According to reports, the fire brigade arrived promptly and managed to extinguish the flames before they spread further.
Eyewitnesses stated that the dumper driver, estimated to be around 17 or 18 years old, was speeding and racing when he hit the motorcyclist and fled the scene, crushing two other motorcycles in the process. Despite the destruction, there were no casualties reported.
Following the incident, the atmosphere in the area turned tense. Locals reportedly chased the dumper from Powerhouse Chowrangi to Saima Arabian Villas. During the pursuit, one individual was injured while trying to stop the vehicle.
In response, the Dumper Association President, Liaqat Mehsud, visited the scene and announced a protest, demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible for the violence and arson. Later, dumper owners staged a protest on the Super Highway by dumping garbage from their vehicles onto the road, blocking both tracks and causing long traffic jams, particularly for heavy vehicles.
Sindh Interior Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar took notice of the situation and ordered swift action to arrest the culprits. Negotiations between the police and protestors succeeded, leading to the end of the protest and the peaceful dispersal of the crowd.
Subsequently, police carried out targeted raids across several areas on the directives of SSP Central Zeeshan Shafiq Siddiqui, arresting multiple suspects linked to the arson and violence. An official investigation into the incident is currently underway.
It's noteworthy that over 500 people lost their lives and nearly 5,000 were injured in road accidents in Karachi during 2024. Alarmingly, in just the first three months of 2025, approximately 100 fatalities have already been reported, according to a report published on Human Online.
Tensions surrounding traffic accidents in the city escalated when the head of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement ,Afaq Khan, allegedly instructed the public to set trucks and dumpers on fire, leading to his arrest. Meanwhile, a blame game continues between the Sindh government and MQM, further fueling the political unrest over this pressing public safety issue.
