At least 13 killed as Karachi-bound passenger van catches fire at M9 motorway

KARACHI: At least 13 passengers were burnt to death and six others sustained severe injuries when a passenger van they were travelling caught fire after an accident on M9 motorway, ARY News reported on Saturday.

According to Additional IG Motorway Police Dr Aftab Pathan, the ill-fated passenger van overturned near the cement factory after taking a number of turns and caught fire due to a short circuit.

A passenger van, carrying 22 passengers, was coming from Hyderabad to Karachi when it overturned near a cement factory–40 kilometers away from Karachi toll plaza.

Rescue officials, after being informed rushed to the scene and shifted the bodies and the injured to Nooriabad hospital. The fire tenders also reached the site to extinguish the fire. At least eight passengers died on the spot.

According to Dr Aftab Pathan, the van driver applied brakes after the bonnet of a car moving in front of him broke away and hit the van. The driver lost control of the vehicle and the van overturned after taking a number of turns.

Meanwhile, the flow of vehicular traffic was suspended after the Motorway Police closed the Hyderabad-Karachi section of M-9.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed grief over the deaths of innocent people in the motorway van accident and has directed the authorities to provide better medical facilities to the injured.

He has also summoned a report from Sindh Transport Minister Awais Qadir Shah.

Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives and directed Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner Fuad Ghaffar Soomro to provide the best medical assistance to the injured.