12 Injured as School Van Catches Fire in Murree, 10 Children Among Victims

Three children suffer serious burns of up to 42pc as Suzuki Bolan veers off road and bursts into flames; overloading and inadequate fire safety measures come under scrutiny

Staff Report

MURREE: At least 12 people, including 10 schoolchildren aged between five and 14, were injured when a school van veered off the road and caught fire near Bara Hotar Link Road in Murree on Tuesday, leaving several children with serious burn injuries.

According to Murree police, the Suzuki Bolan carrying schoolchildren suddenly went off the road before catching fire. Police and Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the scene, evacuated the passengers and shifted the injured to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital for treatment.

A THQ Hospital incident report said 12 people, including two adults and 10 children, were brought to the facility, while 10 of them had suffered burns of varying degrees.

The condition of three children was reported to be serious. One child sustained burns to 42 per cent of the body, while two others suffered burns covering 38pc and 26pc, respectively.

Police said the cause of the fire had not yet been determined and that legal action would be taken after the circumstances surrounding the incident were established.

Murree District Police Officer Raza Tanveer Sipra visited the hospital and inquired about the condition of the injured children. He said police were maintaining contact with the relevant authorities to ensure the provision of medical treatment, particularly for those requiring referral to specialised facilities.

Earlier, Rescue 1122 had said that the passengers, mostly schoolchildren, were safely evacuated from the van and had sustained minor injuries. However, the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz sought a report on the incident and took notice of allegations concerning vehicle overloading and inadequate fire-safety arrangements, according to state broadcaster PTV.

The Murree incident has once again raised concerns over the safety standards of vehicles transporting schoolchildren, particularly following a series of similar incidents across the country.