Seven other passengers and four bystanders were also injured in the incident. They were first taken to a Tibba Sultanpur health centre and later to Nishtar Hospital in Multan.
Doctors treating them said seven injured were critical. Akbar Saeed, the emergency ward DMS, said 70 per cent of their bodies were burned. Six of them were identified as Muhammad Sharif, Saleema Bibi, Sakina Bibi, Muhammad Bilal, Allah Diya and Muhammad Akram Sadiq, a bystander who was injured in the accident, said that 14 passengers had died on the spot.
Abbas, another witness, said the driver of the mini-bus lost control of the vehicle while trying to overtake another mini-bus and crashed it into a tractor-trolley leaving Gulshan Oil Mills.
He said the van overturned and after an explosion seconds later caught fire.
The driver of the trolley and a helper were arrested by the police. Nawaz, the driver, told the police irresponsible driving by the mini-bus driver caused the accident.
He said his trolley was loaded with dozens of cans of vegetable oil and ghee and that he could not have turned or reversed it to avoid the accident.
Rescue 1122 officials said rescue work was initially hindered by the oil spilled on the road from the cans loaded on the truck.
Of the 17 deceased, 15 were identified by their relatives. Two, were burned beyond recognition.
Vehari District Police Officer Nasir Ali Rizvi said he had ordered an inquiry into the accident and suspended patrolling police officials of a check post close to the accident site until the findings were available.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2011.
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