At least 20 people lost their lives as a passenger bus caught fire after a collision with an oil tanker at Motorway-5 in Multan, Pakistan on Tuesday.
The bus was travelling to Karachi from Lahore carrying 26 people, including a driver and conductor. The accident occurred at Motorway M5 in Uch Sharif near Multan where a bus going to Karachi from Lahore collided with an oil tanker due to which both vehicles caught fire, killing at least 20 persons and injuring six others.
As many as 18 passengers were burnt alive on the spot after both the bus and tanker caught fire due to the collision. Eight injured people were admitted to a hospital where two succumbed to their wounds during the treatment.
"Twenty people have perished in a collision between a bus going to Karachi from Lahore and an oil tanker. After the collision, both the bus and tanker caught fire and the passengers were burnt alive" a Rescue 1122 spokesperson said.
He added that six passengers who suffered burn injuries were shifted to Nishtar Hospital in Multan where their condition is said to be critical.
The identity of the dead and injured could not be ascertained as per initial reports.
"Most bodies of the perished passengers are burnt completely and beyond recognition. These bodies will be handed over to the families after a DNA test," a Rescue 1122 spokesperson said.
