Oil tanker explosion kills 208 in Ahmadpur Sharqia

The oil tanker overturned on National Highway after which petrol began to spill out of it.

BAHAWALPUR (Dunya News) - June 25 At least 208 people were killed and scores injured in a fire that broke out after an oil tanker overturned in Bahawalpur early Sunday and crowds rushed to collect fuel, an official said. The tragedy came one day before Pakistan was due to begin Eid ul-Fitr celebrations marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramazan, with many roads crowded as people travel home for the holidays. The tanker carrying 4660,000 litres of fuel overturned on a main highway while travelling from Karachi to Lahore, near the town of Ahmadpur East in Punjab province. Residents could be seen walking past blackened and twisted bodies piled by the side of the road. Earlier, television footage showed shooting flames and a thick plume of smoke as firefighters battled to extinguish the blaze. The charred wreckage of dozens of motorcycles and cars could be seen scattered on the highway, along with kitchen utensils, pots, water coolers, jerrycans and buckets which victims had brought to collect the petrol. Both Riffat and senior local government official Rana Mohammed Saleem Afzal, speaking to state television, said at least 208 people had been killed updated July 3. Afzal said more than 60 were wounded. “Many bodies could not be identified as they have been charred very badly,” Riffat said. Punjab provincial law minister Rana Sanaullah has said that DNA tests were being used to identify the dead. He said the driver of the tanker had survived the crash and been taken into custody. The massive fire injured at least 120 people who were shifted to Victoria Hospital for medical assistance. However; the death toll is rising due to the non-availability of burn unit and lack of facilities in emergency as it hindered the treatment of the patients.