13 dead in Pindi road accident

Passenger van, trailer collide near Chakri Interchange

RAWALPINDI: A passenger van and a trailer crashed into each other, and the wreckage caught fire, killing 11 people on the spot. Seven others were severely injured, including a family of five with children. The injured children lost their lives soon after, taking the total death toll to 13.

The van driver was said to be sleep-deprived which caused the accident near the Chakri interchange on Tuesday, but the police have launched an investigation.



The bodies were charred beyond recognition but hospital sources have been able to identify the two children and three others, while DNA samples are being collected so the remaining eight victims can be identified.

According to police sources, a passenger wagon, bearing registration number ZT-1212 collided with a trailer, bearing registration number PLT-276 near the Chakri interchange, when the drowsy van driver was speeding and could not apply brakes on time.

The front of the van and the back of the trailer caught fire, burning 11 people alive and gravely injuring GHQ employee Muhammad Ali Shahid, his wife Shaista Shahid, their two children, his sister Salam Bibi and two others identified as Faisal Hayat and Nawaz.



The resultant flames engulfed the van so quickly that the passengers in the front were unable to get out. The only survivors were the passengers seated in the back of the bus and were able to escape when the trunk was opened.

The injured were taken to the Rawalpindi CMH, where the children succumbed to their wounds. The bodies of the deceased were shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and their relatives were called over to identify them.

The people who were successfully identified because of their clothes and other belongings were Muhammad Sharif, 50, Sajir, 35, Muhammad Ashraf, 29, Muhammad Khan and the two children Ishaal and Muhammad Hassan.