LAHORE: At least six persons were killed and several others injured in separate road accidents caused by dense fog that blanketed several cities of Punjab on Tuesday.
Several trains and flights were delayed due to the foggy conditions across the province, making the life crippled in Lahore and Multan, while several sections of Motorway were also closed, as thick fog blanketed Peshawar to Lahore, Multan and Bahawalpur making the visibility almost nil on Tuesday morning.
One motorbike rider rammed into a stationary truck due to poor visibility and was killed at Johar town in Lahore. Two cars collided in defence area of the provincial capital, killing four people including two women.
In two other traffic accidents, one person was killed and three others sustained injuries due to thick fog on Lodhran-Khanewal Road. The dead and the injured have been shifted to the hospital.
Likewise, as many as 15 persons were injured as a passenger bus plunged into canal in Sheikhupura while six others injured in Sukkur, Rohri.
Meanwhile, the Motorway spokesman appealed to the citizens not to travel unnecessarily as visibility was almost zero that may cause traffic hazards.
Muhammad Riaz, the Chief of Metrological Department, said that the spate of foggy weather was expected to continue until the first or second week of January.
The National Highways and Motorways sources said that the visibility was zero on the National Highway from Lahore to Bahawalpur and on Motorway from Lahore to Kot Momin, while Motorway was closed for usual traffic.
Air traffic at the Lahore and Multan airports remained suspended, while the railway service has also been badly affected.
Motorway police said that visibility on Motorway M-1 from Swabi to Burhan Exchange was only up to 25 meters and, therefore, Motorway M-1 has been closed for all sorts of traffic, while dense fog has engulfed Motorway M-1 from Peshawar to Swabi.
On the other hand, Motorway M-11 from Bhera to Faisalabad also closed for all sorts of traffic, while on the G.T. Road from Lahore to Rahimyar Khan the visibility was totally blurred, Motorway sources said.
Besides, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, Charsadda and Mardan were also affected by the spate of foggy weather, the Met Department sources said.