RAWALPINDI: Six people, including a family of four, were killed after a gas tanker crashed into their car while going to Lahore on the motorway near Kallar Kahar on Monday.

According to a spokesperson for the motorway police, the accident happened in the Salt Range when an empty gas tanker which was on its way to Faisalabad from Rawalpindi rammed into the car, forcing both vehicles to veer off the road and catching fire.

After the collision, the empty tank of the truck got separated from the engine and fell into a ravine while the car and the engine cabin of the truck caught fire – giving no chance to the people travelling in the car and the driver and his helper to run for their lives.

Shortly after the accident happened, the motorway police with fire engines and ambulances reached the spot and started a rescue operation.

According to a police official of the Kallar Kahar police, a Lahore-based dental doctor along with his wife and two children was going back to the provincial capital after visiting Islamabad when their car was hit by the tanker after its brake failed.

As a result, the car veered off the road, while the empty tank of the truck plunged into a ravine. He said that the car and its occupants were burnt beyond recognition; however, the car’s registration plate was found away from the scene of the accident.

He said that a doctor, his wife and two children – who seemed to be between four and five years of age – were burnt beyond recognition. Besides the four members of the family, the driver of the truck and his colleague were also burnt alive in the tragic accident.

A press release issued by the spokesman for the Chakwal police said a gas tanker lost control while going uphill and crashed into the car in front of it. As a result, a fire broke out, killing all six people on the spot. The Chakwal police said that among the deceased, four persons were present in the car while two persons, including the truck driver and his helper, were present in the truck.

Meanwhile, Chakwal Deputy Commissioner Quratulain said the victims present in the car were identified as Waleed Javed, a resident of Lahore, his wife Ayesha Waleed, and sons Ibrahim and Hashim. Meanwhile, the truck driver was identified as Khairat Ali and his helper Muhammad Ashraf; both are residents of Shangla.

In a statement, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed grief over the loss of lives in the tragic accident.

— Hamid Asghar in Gujjar Khan contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2024