Passenger vehicle carrying family from Multan plunges into ravine, overturns and bursts into flames near Khajut; rescue operation underway.
Image: Geo News
At least 10 people were killed and 13 others injured after a passenger van carrying tourists caught fire and crashed near Khajut on the Islamabad–Murree Expressway on Wednesday, officials said.
According to Motorway Police and Murree Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Abbas Shirazi, the vehicle was carrying 23 members of the same family from Multan when it lost control while negotiating a turn. The van collided with a roadside barrier, plunged into a ravine, and overturned before catching fire.
Officials said the impact caused the engine to ignite, while the vehicle’s sliding door became jammed after the overturn, trapping passengers inside.
Rescue teams, Motorway Police, and district administration officials reached the site and launched an emergency operation. Bodies and injured passengers were shifted to nearby hospitals, including the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.
A Motorway Police spokesperson confirmed that among the dead were 10 children. At least 10 injured passengers were taken to hospital, with two reported to be in critical condition.
Authorities said all 23 passengers aboard the van belonged to the same family and had left for Murree early in the morning. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident and subsequent fire.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed grief over the tragedy, extending condolences to the victims’ families and directing officials to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured.
