Death toll of Bahawalpur tanker inferno reaches 206

MULTAN: The death toll of the horrific oil tanker blaze in Ahmedpur Sharqia near Bahawalpur rose to 206 as six more injured succumbed to burn injuries at Nishtar Hospital Multan and Jinnah Hospital Lahore, ARY News reported on Monday.

According to the hospitals sources, six injured of the inferno succumbed to their injuries late Sunday/early Monday morning, increasing the death toll to 206.

Authorities said around 70 injured are still being treated at different hospitals in Punjab, of which 28 are said to be in critical condition.

Twnety-six deceased of the oil tanker fire have been identified so far and their families have been paid compensation of Rs two million each by the government of Punjab. Last week around 125 deceased were laid to rest in a mass grave near their native place.

An initial inquiry carried out into the incident held the motorway police officers responsible for failing to cordon off the area where leaked oil spread after spilling from an overturned tanker.

Earlier, police had registered a case against the owner, driver, and manager of the oil tanker that caused large number of deaths and injuries in the deadly incident.

The owner of Lakki Marwat Group’s oil tanker Haji Hasnain, Manager Khalid Razzaq, and driver Gul Muhammad have been nominated in the FIR. The driver has also succumbed to his injuries at hospital in Multan.

The case was registered on the complaint of a victim family under sections 109, 279, 322, 337, 427, and 435 of Pakistan Penal Code. The incident took place on June 25 just a day before Eid-ul-Fitr.