125 victims of Bahawalpur inferno laid to rest

BHAWALPUR: The combined funeral prayers of 125 victims of the Ahmedpur Sharqia oil tanker blaze were held on Tuesday after which they were laid to rest, ARY News reported. 

The bodies of the victims were brought for burial rituals in twelve trucks. Many of them were beyond recognition. The funeral prayers scheduled for 1PM where held after a delay of over four hours.

A large number of people attended the funeral including local politicians, parliamentarians, district and civil administration. People from all walk of life were present to mourn the victims and express their solidarity. The victims were laid to rest in a nearby graveyard.

The driver of the oil tanker Gul Muhammad  is under treatment at the Nishtar Hospital in Multan. He is in a critical situation after suffering third-degree burns to ninety percent of his body. No relatives or family members have contacted to ask his whereabouts.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the massive fuel tanker fire has risen to 169 as three more victims died overnight. A case against owner, driver, and manager of the oil tanker that caused the death has also been registered.

The owner of Lakki Marwat Group’s oil tanker Haji Hasnain, Manager Khalid Razzaq, and driver Gul Muhammad were nominated in the FIR. The case was registered on complaint of Muhammad Asghar, a brother of Muhammad Imran, who perished in the incident, under sections 109, 279, 322, 337, 427, and 435 of Pakistan Penal Code.

It is to be mentioned here that at least 169 people were burnt to death and dozens of others injured after a fuel tanker overturned and exploded outside the eastern city of Bahawalpur in Punjab province.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning as a large number of people gathered to collect petrol from the vehicle, according to rescue services. Residents could be seen walking past blackened and twisted bodies piled by the side of the road.