Oil tanker fire kills four in Punjab

KOT ADDU: At least three people lost their lives when an oil tanker caught fire in Kot Addu, Muzaffargarh district this morning, ARY News reported.

According to rescue sources, the fire erupted in the oil tanker during welding and the blaze engulfed four other shops, thus completely destroying them.

The Incident occurred near Tharmil power house. Rescue officials fear that the death toll could rise as some of the injured were in critical condition.

All the victims were moved to a nearby hospital for treatment.

On June 24, an oil tanker crashed and exploded in Bhawalpur, killing 146 people, many of whom were collecting leaking fuel before it ignited.

The speeding tanker overturned on a sharp bend on a highway before the deadly incident occurred. The driver lost control when the vehicle blew a tyre.

A large crowd of people gathered, many to collect fuel in containers, and the tanker exploded in a huge fireball about 45 minutes later. Rescue workers said that about 80 people had been injured.

An estimated 20 children were among the dead, officials had confirmed.

Many bodies were burnt beyond recognition and television pictures showed piles of burnt out motorcycles, apparently those of people who were collecting fuel or watching events unfold.

Oil is a precious commodity for villagers in Pakistan, where more than 60 percent of the population survives on $3 a day, according to a World Bank survey.