BAHAWALPUR – The Death toll from the Bahawalpur oil tanker incident may rise further as many people are reportedly in critical condition, hospital sources have revealed.
Earlier it is reported that 149 people were burnt to death while around 100 others were left injured as an oil tanker caught fire after overturning on National Highway in Ahmedpur Sharqia near Bahawalpur this morning.
According to rescue sources, an oil tanker turned upside down on Pakka Pul apparently due to over speeding after which people from the village Basti Ramzan Joiya area swarmed the site to collect fuel that was spilling from the oil tanker however, unfortunately the fuel burst into flames.
Eyewitnesses said some people in the vicinity were smoking cigarettes, which could have ignited the deadly fire that killed 140 people including women and kids however, it is feared that the death toll could mount further.
Rescue workers shifted the injured to the Bahawalpur Victoria hospital. They said a DNA test would be needed for identification of deceased due to charred bodies.