
KARACHI: The death toll from a multi-vehicle collision near Kathore on the M9 Motorway climbed to 14 on Saturday after more victims succumbed to injuries, while five others remained under treatment, rescue officials said.
Read More: CM directs opening of M9-M5 Link Road next week
Police reported that an oil tanker, a passenger coach and several other vehicles were involved in the crash on Friday. Investigators said the coach was travelling on the wrong side of the motorway at the time of the collision, causing a powerful impact that threw some passengers off a nearby bridge.
At least thirteen people were killed and nine others injured in a traffic accident involving an oil tanker and a passenger bus on the M-9 Motorway near Kathore.#PakistanConnect pic.twitter.com/7BbwJrH8zF
— Pakistan Connect (@Pak_Connect) February 13, 2026
Rescue teams initially shifted 11 bodies to the Edhi Sohrab Goth Mortuary, where grieving relatives gathered to identify the deceased. The toll later rose when three injured victims died during treatment.
Family members told Geo News that 12 of the deceased belonged to the same family from Kotri, who had travelled to Karachi to attend a wedding in Shah Latif Town. The accident occurred on their return journey, they said, adding that the bodies would be transported back to Kotri for burial after legal formalities.
Police confirmed that the oil tanker driver, identified as Rafiullah, was also among the dead. An injured three-year-old child, Imran, later died in hospital, rescue sources added.
Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Akhtar Odho directed officers to secure the site and facilitate rescue and investigation efforts. President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief and instructed the provincial government to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured.
Read More: China signals interest to invest in M6, M9, MNJ projects
Fatal road accidents remain frequent in Pakistan due to poor road conditions and weak enforcement of traffic laws. The 136-km M9 motorway linking Karachi and Hyderabad has long faced safety concerns, with commuters reporting deteriorating surfaces, cracks and uneven patches. Earlier this month, three people died in another collision near Lunikot in Jamshoro district.