One dead, three injured as Karachi-bound passenger bus catches fire near Sakran

By
Afzal Nadeem Dogar

  • Police say deceased identified as 17-year-old girl.
  • Injured sent off to Karachi. 
  • Blaze chars ill-fated bus before being doused. 


At least one passenger was burned to death and multiple others sustained injuries when a bus carrying Zaireen (pilgrims) caught fire on its way to Karachi from Shah Noorani shrine in Khuzdar, Balochistan on Sunday, Geo News reported.

The accident took place near Lang Lohar near Sakran, Hub District, some 30 kilometres from the port city, when the bus went up in flames as its engine got overheated due to speeding.

The rescue team rushed to the scene and rescued four injured passengers, including a woman, a teenage girl and two children.

Local police officer Hidayatullah confirmed the number of casualties, saying that the deceased was a 17-year-old girl, whose name could not be ascertained till the filing of this report.

The blaze was doused but by the time it had completely charred the ill-fated vehicle.

The injured were sent off to Karachi for treatment at Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital. 

Bus accidents are not uncommon in Pakistan as another unfortunate incident took place last month when a school bus fell into a ravine near the Shahdara area of Islamabad, killing a school teacher and injuring 20 passengers.

Police said that the pupils had been brought to the federal capital from Sheikhupura on a school trip when they met the accident.

They said that 54, including the school staff and students, were on board the bus. Thirteen of the passengers were teachers and other staff, while 22 were school boys and 19 were school girls, they added.