The blaze soon engulfed the bus. Passers-by started a rescue operation and helped the stranded passengers evacuate the bus well before police and fire brigade reached the site and doused the blaze. The van's driver fled the scene, according to the police.
The injured were shifted to the taluka hospital in Talhar where two of them, who were in critical condition, were referred to Hyderabad. The injured included Niaz Ahmed Khaskheli, Muhammad Jumman, Roshan Shedi, Javed Chalgari, Ameer Bux Khaskheli, Zainab Lodhi and Marvi Khaskheli among others.
Fire guts goods worth over Rs3.5m in Balakot
Upon receiving the information, MPA Mir Allah Bux Talpur visited the taluka hospital and inquired about the health of the injured. The MPA directed the hospital administration to ensure that all the burn patients received proper medical treatment.
The cause of the blaze has yet to be ascertained. However, it is suspected that a sub-standard CNG cylinder installed in the van caused the fire.
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