At least 17 flood victims have died from burns in southern Pakistan after their bus caught fire while they were returning home, according to officials.
On Wednesday night, the incident took place on the M-9 highway that links Hyderabad and Jamshoro in the province of Sindh with the port city of Karachi.
“So far, 17 passengers have died in the accident, 10 were injured who were treated by rescue teams,” Siraj Qasim Soomro, parliamentary health secretary told reporters.
The bus carried about 35 passengers.
Asif Jameel, the district commissioner for Jamshoro, told the Reuters news agency that the passengers in the bus were flood victims who had relocated off the highway and were returning to Dadu district.
Jameel said that they were using private transportation for the purpose.
The source of the fire was not immediately known, but according to authorities, it appears to have started in the bus’s rear and spread to the entire vehicle. To escape the flames, some people jumped from the bus.
According to the police, the preliminary investigation indicated that a short circuit may have caused the incident.
Health officials worry that the death toll may grow because many injured people are reportedly in severe condition.
The Chenab Times News Desk