At least 10 people have been burnt alive and nine others injured when an overloaded passenger van overturned and caught fire in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province.
Four charred bodies have been recovered which are beyond recognition, police officer Jamshoro Naeem Shaikh said, adding that 10 passengers have been killed in the accident that took place in Nooriabad town on Sunday night.
“The tyre of the van burst and then it fell into a ditch. This caused the explosion in its cylinder,” said Shaikh said.
“Three women, two children and four men were wounded, while, three passengers remained unharmed,” he said.
Rescuers had to cut the door and parts of the van to retrieve the remaining bodies as the van had been completely gutted, Dawn reported.
Only those passengers who were sitting near the ill—fated van’s door could get out of it, Shaikh said.
He further stated that nine passengers sustained injuries when they jumped out of the van.
Station house officer Hashim Brohi of Nooriabad police station said that all the bodies were beyond recognition and only a DNA test could determine their identity.
Pakistan has an appalling record of traffic accidents due to poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.
Last month at least 62 people were killed when their overcrowded bus collided head—on with a speeding oil tanker, sparking a major fire in southern Pakistan.
