Mob torches water tanker in retaliation after accident near Karachi's Sakhi Hassan area

A water tanker driver traveling from the Paposh area of Karachi allegedly hit a citizen at Chandni Chowk and fled the scene, prompting citizens to chase him, according to police and eyewitnesses.

As the driver attempted to escape, his tanker lost control at Five Star Chowrangi and overturned near Sakhi Hassan. Enraged locals then set the vehicle ablaze .

A video circulating on social media shows a crowd beating the driver while the burning tanker is visible in the background.

In a separate incident earlier on Wednesday night, a motorcyclist was injured after being struck by a dumper near Power House Chowrangi in North Karachi. In response, angry residents torched several dumpers in different parts of the area.

Read: Reckless driver hits motorcycles, mob burns dumpers at Karachi's Powerhouse Chowrangi

According to police data, heavy vehicle accidents in Karachi have caused over 78 casualties in just 100 days. Overall, traffic accidents have claimed 256 lives in the city so far this year.

Karachi Police reported on Thursday that five FIRs have been registered for inciting violence and setting vehicles on fire in North Karachi, following reports of a woman allegedly being hit by a dumper on Wednesday night.

At least 19 individuals have been arrested in connection with the incidents.

Mansoor Mehsud, central leader of the All Dumper Truck Transport Owners Association Karachi, claimed that each dumper costs between Rs30 million and Rs35 million. He added that vehicles worth an estimated Rs350 million were burned in retaliation for the accidents.

Check: Journalist blasts dumper association for offering blood money instead of taking safety measures

Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar condemned the torching of heavy vehicles, stating that while there are strict orders to arrest negligent drivers involved in such accidents, citizens are not permitted to take the law into their own hands.

DIG Traffic Ahmed Nawaz Cheema reported that, during the first two months of this year, 498 drivers were arrested for traffic violations and over 35,000 vehicles were challaned.