File Photo: A damaged view of car and mazda truck in Anjeera Sorab where a deadly accident claims three lives: Photo taken from social media

MERC shifts 15,000 injured of road accidents to hospitals in Balochistan

Syed Ali Shah, Manan Mandokhail :

The Medical Emergency Response Center (MERC) has shifted over 15,000 injured of road accidents to hospitals across Balochistan since October 2019. “For the first time, such a data of accidents collected in Balochistan”, Aziz Jamali, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MERC told Quetta Voice in an exclusive interview.

Traffic accidents continue to claim precious human lives on a daily basis in various parts of Balochistan. Over-speeding, reckless driving, and poor conditions of roads/highways are the underlying reasons behind rampant road accidents.

MERC responded to 12,000 road accidents

So far, MERC has responded to 12,000 road accidents across Balochistan. “We have shifted rescued and treated over 15,000 injured of road accidents”, Mr. Jamali informed.

“Baghbana in Khuzdar and Windar in Lasbella recorded the highest number of road accidents”, MERC Chief mentioned. Only in Baghbana, MERC personnel have responded to 1,400 road accidents and the MERC center in Windar responded to 2,800 road accidents since Oct 2019.

78 percent of those injured in traffic accidents were bike riders 

In response to a question, Mr. Jamali revealed that 78 percent of those injured in road accidents were bike riders. “Since there is no custom of wearing a helmet that is why most of the riders suffered head injuries”, he said.

14 emergency response centers established on highways 

MERC continues to provide service at three highways from Quetta-Karachi, Zhob, and Chaman. “We have established 14 emergency response centers on highways to make sure timely provision of services to people”, he said.

Trained paramedics from Lahore deployed in these emergency centers to support the passengers in remote areas of the province. Apart from this, MERC has also established washrooms in all centers to facilitate the passengers. Chief Minister Balochistan, Jam Kamal Khan also took to Twitter the other day and appreciated the services being rendered by the MERC.

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Quetta Voice is an English Daily covering all unfolding political, economic and social issues relating to Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province in terms of area. QV's main focus is on stories related to education, promotion of quality education and publishing reports about out of school children in the province. QV has also a vigilant eye on health, climate change and other key sectors.