ISLAMABAD: At least 10 people were killed and 13 others injured when a passenger Hiace van plunged into a ravine and caught fire near Khajut on the Islamabad-Murree Expressway on Wednesday, according to the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP).
A spokesperson for the Motorway Police said the tragic accident occurred when the vehicle lost control while negotiating a turn and fell into a drainage channel beside the roadway, and immediately burst into flames, trapping passengers inside.
He said the vehicle fell on a side that made it impossible for passengers to open the doors and escape, contributing to the high number of casualties.
“The bodies of those killed and the injured survivors were transported to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad for medical treatment, identification and further procedures,” he said.
According to the Motorway Police, a large contingent of NHMP personnel, rescue teams and the Murree district administration reached the scene soon after the accident, while rescue and relief operations were launched immediately.
He said all the victims belonged to a single family that was travelling from Multan to Murree for a visit. He added that a significant number of children were among the passengers, with 10 children reported to be travelling in the van at the time of the accident.
An investigation had been launched to determine the exact cause of the accident. –Agencies
