An oil tanker overturned and burst into flames as crowds rushed to collect fuel that spilled over on a highway in Pakistan’s Punjab Province, killing over 150 people and injuring more than 140 others, in one of the deadliest accidents in the country.
PTI
LAHORE
The oil tanker coming from Karachi and headed to Lahore overturned early this morning on the national highway at the Ahmedpur Sharqia area of the Bahawalpur district, some 400 km from Lahore, after a tyre burst and the driver lost control.
The fire was apparently caused by someone who lit a cigarette after people from nearby localities gathered on the highway to collect petrol, officials said.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was in London to celebrate Eid along with his family members, cut short his visit and left for Pakistan.
“This is a tragedy of its kind in the country’s history that left everyone in grief in Pakistan. My thoughts are with the victims’ families,” Sharif said before leaving for Pakistan.
Rescue officials said the blaze from the oil spill engulfed scores of residents, killing 151 people and injuring more than 140 others.
“Some 151 people including women and children lost their lives in this tragedy. The condition of more than 50 injured is critical and they are being shifted to Lahore and Faisalabad cities to save their lives,” Rescue official Jam Sajjad told PTI, adding that the death toll could rise further.
He said most of the dead bodies were completely charred and they will be
HOW IT HAPPENED
An oil tanker coming from Karachi and headed to Lahore overturned on the national highway at the Ahmedpur Sharqia area of the Bahawalpur district, some 400 km from Lahore, after a tyre burst and the driver lost control
Soon after, crowds rushed to collect fuel that spilled over on the highway
The fire was apparently caused by someone who lit a cigarette when locals were collecting petrol, officials said
