At least three people were killed and 15 others injured on Wednesday when a bus carrying workers of a local sugar mill overturned in Sadiqabad due to dense fog, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
According to the details, the accident occurred near Jamal Din Wali Airport, where poor visibility caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
The bus was transporting employees of a nearby sugar mill when it skidded off the road and overturned.
Rescue teams and local authorities reached the scene shortly after the crash and shifted the injured to Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Rahim Yar Khan. Hospital officials said several of the injured were in critical condition.
Police said an investigation was underway to determine the exact cause of the accident, while motorists were advised to exercise caution amid persistent foggy conditions in the region.
The incident came as dense fog blanketed large parts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing traffic to a standstill and forcing authorities to close multiple sections of major motorways.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the M-1 motorway was closed from Peshawar Toll Plaza to the Rashakai Interchange due to dangerously low visibility.
At the same time, traffic on the M-3 remained suspended between Darkhana and Jaranwala.
Similar conditions led to the closure of the M-4 from Shershah to Khanewal and from Gojra to Shorkot.
In southern Punjab, the M-5 motorway was shut for traffic from Rahim Yar Khan to Rohri, as well as from Multan to Zahir Pir, after thick fog reduced visibility to unsafe levels.
National highways were also affected, with visibility dropping to around 100 metres at several locations, significantly slowing traffic and increasing the risk of accidents.
The adverse weather coincided with worsening air quality in major urban centres, too.
Lahore was ranked sixth among the world’s most polluted cities, with an Air Quality Index reading of 195, while Karachi stood at tenth on the global list, highlighting ongoing environmental and public health concerns.
Authorities have advised motorists to avoid unnecessary travel during early morning and late-night hours and to follow safety guidelines until weather conditions improve.
Reporters: Malik Javeed Anwar and Faran Yameen