151 dead, 140 hurt as oil tanker explodes in Pak

Lahore, June 25 

An oil tanker overturned and burst into flames as crowds rushed to collect fuel that spilled over on a highway in Pakistan's Punjab Province, killing over 150 people and injuring more than 140 others, in one of the deadliest accidents in the country.

The oil tanker coming from Karachi and headed to Lahore overturned early this morning on the national highway at the Ahmedpur Sharqia area of the Bahawalpur district, some 400 km from Lahore, after a tyre burst and the driver lost control.

The fire was apparently caused by someone who lit a cigarette after people from nearby localities gathered on the highway to collect petrol, officials said.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was in London to celebrate Eid along with his family members, cut short his visit and left for Pakistan. “This is a tragedy of its kind in the country’s history that left everyone in grief in Pakistan. My thoughts are with the victims’ families,” Sharif said before leaving for Pakistan.

Rescue officials said the blaze from the oil spill engulfed scores of residents, killing 151 people and injuring more than 140 others.

“The condition of more than 50 injured is critical and they are being shifted to Lahore and Faisalabad cities,” Rescue official Jam Sajjad said, adding most of the bodies were completely charred and would be identified by DNA tests.

“At least 123 persons were burnt alive and died on the spot while the injured were shifted to the district headquarters hospital and Victoria Hospital in Bahawalpur where the condition of most of them is critical,” Bahwalpur District Coordination Officer Rana Salim Afzal said.  Video images of the people gathered to collect petrol emerged showing young and old people filling their bikes with the spilled oil and collecting it in bottles and cans.

The leaking fuel was even flowing along the highway in the fields. People were seen sitting near the fields collecting fuel in cans and bottles.

“Suddenly the tanker exploded and within seconds the fire erupted giving no chance to the people present there to leave the place,” Bahawalpur Regional Police Officer Raja Rifat said. — PTI