Maps
Magazine

CRIME

Mob Torches Dumpers in Karachi Amid Rising Road Deaths
Mob sets 10 heavy vehicles ablaze in North Karachi after dumper injures biker. 500+ killed in traffic accidents in 2024. Chaos, protests, and a crackdown follow.
ND
by News Desk
2025-04-10
Mob Torches Dumpers in Karachi Amid Rising Road Deaths

Karachi’s streets descended into chaos late Tuesday night after a dumper truck hit a biker near Power House Chowrangi, North Karachi. Though the 22-year-old rider, Dayan Adil, only sustained minor injuries, false rumours spread that a woman had also been killed, sparking a violent mob reaction.

Within three hours, 10 dumpers and water tankers were torched across various areas including Power House, Baba Morr, and UP Mor. Stone-pelting mobs clashed with fire brigade staff, even attacking fire tenders. Rescue 1122 and Edhi Foundation confirmed several vehicles were badly damaged before police and Rangers arrived to restore order.

Police arrested 19 suspects using CCTV footage and video evidence, booking them under terror charges. Five FIRs have been registered at various police stations across the city.

West Zone DIG Irfan Ali Baloch said while no fatalities occurred in the dumper incident, the scale and coordination of the attacks suggest "pre-planned arson." The Central SSP Zeeshan Shafiq Siddiqi has ordered a sweeping crackdown on those involved.

In protest against the mob violence, dumper operators dumped trash on Superhighway near Sohrab Goth, temporarily blocking traffic until police negotiations reopened the road.

The incident sheds light on a larger crisis: Karachi has reported nearly 500 deaths and 4,879 injuries in traffic accidents during 2024 alone, many involving heavy vehicles such as dumpers and tankers.

The Sindh government recently banned daytime movement of heavy vehicles and mandated vehicle fitness certificates to curb the deadly trend. On Tuesday, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also ordered random drug testing for drivers of heavy vehicles in Karachi.

Rights groups say the city's failure to regulate reckless driving, drugged drivers, and unfit vehicles has become a human rights crisis. “Citizens are paying with their lives while the system fails to hold violators accountable,” a civil society spokesperson stated.

Separately, another motorcyclist was killed in Sharafi Goth by a speeding trailer near Murtaza Chowrangi. The driver was arrested, and the vehicle impounded, police confirmed.

As Karachi continues to reel from the spiraling crisis, citizens are demanding urgent, sustainable action before the next fatal crash ignites another fire — literal or political.
Tagged:

RoadSafety

KarachiAccidents

DumpersCrisis
Share News: