Home / Disasters and Accidents / Petrol Can Ignites School Van Fire, 12 Kids Injured
Petrol Can Ignites School Van Fire, 12 Kids Injured
2 Oct
Summary
- Driver lit a cigarette near a petrol can, causing a van fire.
- Twelve schoolchildren were injured; one later died from burns.
- The school van lacked a required vehicle fitness certificate.
A tragic fire erupted in a school van in Murree on Tuesday, injuring 12 schoolchildren. The blaze occurred when the driver lit a cigarette near a can of petrol stowed under a seat, igniting the vehicle. The injured children were rushed to local hospitals, with critically burned victims transferred to Holy Family Hospital.
Sadly, one child succumbed to severe burn injuries on Wednesday. Several other children remain under treatment for critical burns. The driver, Danish Abbasi, also sustained minor injuries. It was revealed that the commercial school van lacked a required vehicle fitness certificate, which mandates semi-annual inspections.
Authorities have formed a committee to investigate the incident. This event has led to renewed scrutiny of public vehicle safety, a common response following such tragedies, with calls for stricter enforcement of fitness and traffic regulations.
