News / Pakistan

Six children among ten dead in Pakistan accident

Wednesday, 10 February 2016 6:36 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 10 February 2016 6:35 PM ]

People gather around bodies of victims of an accident where a tanker carrying gas collided with a car in Sheikhupura district in Pakistan's Punjab Province, February 10, 2016. (AFP)

At least ten people, including six schoolchildren, were killed Wednesday when a tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) collided with a car in eastern Pakistan.

The accident happened on a busy highway in the district of Sheikhupura in Pakistan's most populous province of Punjab. Seventeen people were also injured.

Latif Gujjar, a senior local police official, said the causalities were caused when a fireball engulfed surrounding vehicles.

"According to initial information, a car was making a U-turn and struck the tanker," media outlets quoted Gujjar as saying, adding, "The loss of life was mainly caused by the tanker fire."

The police official also said two cars, two rickshaws that were carrying children to school and two motorbikes were destroyed in the deadly incident.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Azam, a local rescue official, confirmed the number of casualties, adding that the dead included two women.

Road accidents are common in Pakistan due to poor road construction, lack of proper driving skills, badly maintained vehicles and routine disregard of traffic laws. Figures show more than 4,600 people were killed in road traffic accidents in 2013.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk