JHELUM: At least eight people died and four suffered burn injuries after a passenger van caught fire in Jhelum near Al-Qadir University.
Sixteen people were travelling in the van. Four people jumped out of the vehicle to save their lives.
Rescue sources said that the incident took place at Bakrala Bridge near Sohawa in district Jhelum when a Rawalpindi-bound passenger van coming from Lahore caught fire after its gas cylinder exploded.
The police, Rescue 1122 personnel and officers of district administration reached the scene and started rescue operations.
The bodies and injured were shifted to Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital Sohawa and District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Jhelum for medico-legal formalities.
Identity of many among the deceased could not be ascertained and the Deputy Commissioner Jhelum has appealed the citizens whose relatives or family members were travelling from Lahore to Rawalpindi and don’t reach their homes, to contact the district administration.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar taking notice of the incident have directed the officials concerned for provision of the best treatment to scorched passengers. He condoled with the bereaved families, prayed for departed souls to rest in eternal peace and courage for bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude.