RAWALPINDI: A gas cylinder explosion followed by fire in a passenger van near Islamabad’s M1 toll plaza left four people dead and two others injured on Wednesday night, police said.

The passenger wagon (LES-3355) was going to Peshawar from Rawalpindi when the incident occurred.

As the fire broke out, the wagon driver and nine passengers, including five women and three children, managed to disembark. However, four passengers could not escape and were burnt to death while two others identified as Imran, 30, and Hamza, 21, sustained burn injuries. The injured were shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences where they were stated to be in critical condition. Police said three of the deceased were beyond recognition.

Shortly after the incident, Deputy Superintendent of Police Potohar Division Javed Iqbal, National Highways and Motorway Police and Rescue 1122 teams reached the scene and shifted the injured to hospital. The wagon driver managed to escape from the scene.

According to the police, three gas cylinders connected with each other had been installed under the seats of the wagon. Police have registered a case against the driver and its owner, but none of them has been arrested.

It may be recalled that the City Traffic Police and the Regional Transport Authorities has launched a campaign against unfit public service vehicles after the death of 26 people in a coach accident near Kahuta. However, the situation has not improved as four more lives were lost due to alleged negligence of the authorities concerned. Had the fitness of the passenger wagon been checked, the latest incident would have been avoided.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2024