Ten children injured as school van catches fire in Murree: Rescue 1122

Ten schoolchildren were injured after a school van carrying students fell off the road and caught fire near Bara Hotar in Murree, Rescue 1122 said on Tuesday.

Aaj News quoted Rescue 1122 as saying that the accident occurred near Bara Hotar when the school van went off the road. The vehicle caught fire shortly after the crash.

Rescue personnel reached the site, evacuated the children from the van and shifted the injured to Civil Hospital Murree for medical treatment.

The Murree deputy commissioner said all 10 children who received burn injuries were out of danger. Some of the children were being shifted to Holy Family Hospital for further medical treatment.

Further investigation into the incident were under way.

The Punjab government in a statement said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed grief and sorrow over the burn injuries sustained by students in the Murree accident.

The chief minister sought a report regarding the incident.

Meanwhile, DC Murree Zaheer Shirazi reached the crash site and ensured the transfer of the injured to the hospital.

Taking notice of the preliminary report, CM Nawaz Sharif highlighted the overloading and lack of fire safety arrangements. According to the provincial government statement, she ordered a zero-tolerance policy regarding safety arrangements and vehicle fitness for school vans.

“It is regrettable and painful that despite clear orders regarding school van safety, implementation was not ensured,” said Maryam.