RAWALPINDI: At least 10 members of a family, including women and children, were killed and 13 others injured when a tourist van caught fire following a crash near Khajot on the Murree Expressway on Wednesday.
According to the Motorway Police and Murree district administration, the victims belonged to a single family from Multan who were traveling to Murree for vacation. The accident occurred when the Toyota Hiace van, carrying 23 passengers, reportedly lost control while negotiating a turn. Officials stated that the vehicle struck a side wall due to speeding, crashed into a roadside drain and immediately burst into flames. Murree Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Shirazi and a Motorway Police spokesperson confirmed that excessive speed and a subsequent engine fire appeared to be the primary causes of the tragedy.
The initial death toll of four rose to 10 as rescue officials recovered more bodies from the incinerated vehicle. Rescue workers reported that the van’s sliding door became locked after the impact, trapping the passengers inside. The vehicle had rolled onto the side with the exit doors, which hampered escape efforts and worsened the impact of fire. Around 10 children were among those on board.
The deceased and injured were shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, while some victims were taken to Farooq Hospital. Eleven of the injured were admitted to the PIMS burn unit due to the severity of their wounds, with hospital sources confirming that at least four patients remain in critical condition with burns covering over 60 percent of their bodies. Meanwhile, eyewitnesses at the scene alleged that the death toll mounted due to a delayed response from the authorities, claiming it took approximately 37 minutes for the district administration and local police to arrive.
Emergency teams from Rescue 1122, Motorway Police, district administration and Forest Department eventually launched a large-scale relief operation at the site. The Murree deputy commissioner stated that the process of identifying the deceased is currently underway.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives, extended her condolences to the bereaved family and directed hospital authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured. She has also sought an immediate official report on the incident. A formal investigation has been launched to determine the exact mechanics of the crash, the cause of the vehicle fire and failure of emergency exits.
