Govt to conduct inquiry into Bahawa­lpur inferno, says PM Nawaz

The premier visits victims of Ahmadpur Sharqia tanker blast at the hospital after offering Eid prayers

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said the government will conduct an inquiry into the Ahmadpur Sharqia oil tanker inferno which claimed at least 150 lives, Radio Pakistan reported on Monday.

The premier made the announcement while speaking at the site of the incident after he had visited the victims of the fire.

PM Nawaz said an inquiry was imperative to avoid such tragic incidents in the future, adding that the government will look into the condition of the oil tanker being used by its company.



The prime minister was given a detailed briefing about the tragedy on his arrival at the hospital, after which he inquired after the patients’ health.

A harrowing tragedy struck Punjab just a day before Eid on Sunday when an overturned oil tanker exploded in a huge fireball on the outskirts of Bahawalpur, killing more than 150 people and injuring scores more.

The early morning disaster occurred on a stretch of highway cutting through the village of Ramzanpur Joya as crowds scrambled to collect fuel from the tanker, ignoring warnings to stay clear, said government officials, rescue workers and witnesses.