At least 22 people including women and children were killed when a passenger van met an accident near Indus Highway Toll Plaza, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

According to details, a speedy van carrying devotees who were on a journey from Kahirpur to Sehwan to visit shrine of Lal Shehbaz Qalandar fell into a water-filled ditch near Indus Highway.

Police said they have retrieved 20 bodies from the water accumulated in the ditch. Most of the passengers were children and women.

Police said many others also got injured during the accident.

A breach was created on the Indus Highway Motorway to drain the floodwater of Manchar Lake into River Sindh.

However, due to the negligence of the National Highways Authority, the breach on the Highway could not be filled and resulted in the horrific incident.

The dead bodies and injured have been shifted to Syed Abdullah Shah Institute in Sehwan.

Dr Moeenuddin Siddiqi of Syed Abdullah Shah Institute confirmed the death toll saying the death toll in the accident has reached 20 while there are 13 injured.

He said five injured are in critical condition.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari, Governo Sindh Kamran Tessori, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon and KMC administrator Barrister Murtaza Wahab expressed their regret and condolences over the incident and have directed the concerned authorities to take all the measures to help the victims' families and extend best medical facilities to the injured. 

Reporter: Abdul Karim