FAISALABAD: At least 20 people, including women and children, were burnt to death while 15 others sustained injuries in a collision between a passenger bus and a pick up carrying diesel barrels on Faisalabad Motorway near Pindi Bhattian before dawn on Sunday.
Drivers of both the vehicles were also been killed in the crash. The bus, carrying about 40 passengers, was going to Islamabad from Karachi, said rescue officials.
The injured have been admitted to Pindi Bhattian Hospital. The fire engulfed the bus shortly after the collision, according to the District Police Officer Dr Fahad.
He said most of the injured were in critical condition. Eyewitnesses said people from nearby area tried to pull the passengers out of the burning bus by smashing windows. A National Highways and Motorways Police (NHMP) spokesman said at least 15 passengers were safely pulled out of the wreckage. He said IG NHMP Sultan Ali Khawaja is supervising the rescue and relief activities. Khawaja also inquired after the injured.
He said short-circuiting was said to be the cause of fire in the bus. The IG suspended the beat commander and entire night patrolling shift from service and ordered inquiry into the tragic incident. –Agencies
