The Asian Age

151 killed, 140 hurt in Pak oil tanker fire

Most victims were trying to collect the spilled oil when the fuel caught fire and exploded

- M. ZULQERNAIN

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 over 140 others, in one of the deadliest accidents in the country.

The oil tanker coming from Karachi and headed to Lahore overturned on Sunday morning on the national highway at the Ahmedpur Sharqia area of the Bahawalpur district, some 400 kms from Lahore, after a tyre burst and the driver lost control of the vehicle.

The fire was reportedly 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 Id 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,” Mr Sharif said before leaving for Pakistan.

Rescue official Jam Sajjad said, “Some 151 people, including women and children, lost their lives in this tragedy. The condition of over 50 is critical and they are being shifted to Lahore and Faisalabad.” He said the toll could rise.

More than 151 people were killed and scores injured in a fire that broke out after an oil tanker overturned in Pakistan’s Bahawalpur district on Saturday.

The tragedy came a day before Eidul Fitr celebratio­ns in the country, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramazan.

The incident happened after a tanker — going from Karachi to Lahore — carrying 40,000 litres of fuel overturned on a main highway near the town of Ahmadpur East in the Punjab province.

Most victims were trying to collect the spilled oil when the fuel caught fire and exploded, resulting into killings and burn injuries.

On the instructio­n of Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, four helicopter­s were deployed to rush the injured to hospitals in Multan, Bahawalpur and other cities. As many as 65 injured people were shifted to Nishtar Hospital Multan, though two of them died after they reached the hospital. The process of the identifica­tion of the injured and those died was underway till filling of the report.

District Coordinati­on Officer (DCO) Bahwalpur Rana Salim Afzal termed it a “huge tragedy” in the history of Pakistan.

“At least 151 people were killed before getting any medical help while the rescue officials shifted more than 140 injured to the district headquarte­rs hospital and Victoria Hospital in Bahawalpur where the condition of most of them is critical,” Mr Afzal said, adding some 50,000 litre petrol spilled from the oil tanker. He said women and children are among the victims. Rescue official Jam Sajjad said 151 people were killed in the fire and the toll may rise further as a number of injured are in critical condition. He said most of the dead bodies are completely charred and they will be identified only by DNA test.

President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharof expressed heartfelt grief over oil tanker incident

PM Sharif directed provincial administra­tion to provide the best possible medical facilities to the injured. The Punjab CM ordered an inquiry and sought a report from the authoritie­s.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has condoled the loss of lives in the tragic incident. “The people of China stand by the Pakistani people in this tragic hour,” he said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifcut cut short his London visit after the fire incident and flew back home.

Speaking to media after offering Id prayer in London, he expressed his grief and condolence­s. Pakistan has an appalling record of fatal traffic accidents due to poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.

At least 62 people including women and children were killed in southern Pakistan in 2015 when their bus collided with an oil tanker. The country has also long struggled to alleviate a chronic energy crisis, with regular blackouts crippling industry and exacerbati­ng anger against the government.

Many Pakistanis were already unnerved by a series of deadly militant attacks across the country Friday, with officials Sunday increasing the death toll from the assaults in three cities to a total of 69.

It is a national tragedy. I have directed provincial administra­tion to provide the best possible medical facilities to the injured people. — Nawaz Sharif, Pakistani PM

 ?? — AP ?? Pakistan Army soldiers stand guard while rescue workers examine the site of an oil tanker explosion at a highway near Bahawalpur, in Pakistan, on Sunday.
— AP Pakistan Army soldiers stand guard while rescue workers examine the site of an oil tanker explosion at a highway near Bahawalpur, in Pakistan, on Sunday.
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