Death toll Bahawalpur oil tanker fire reaches 197

LAHORE - The death toll from the ill-fated Ahmedpur East oil tanker fire victims rose to 197 as two more injured succumbed to burn injuries in Jinnah Hospital Lahore on Sunday.

According to focal person Dr Amir Mahmood, so far eight people succumbed to burn wounds at Jinnah Hospital Lahore.

Total 27 injured were shifted to Jinnah Hospital on June 27. Five of the 27 patients passed away the very next day. "Currently, 14 people are being treated at the hospital out of which six are reported to be critical", Dr Amir added.

Authorities said around 80 injured are still being treatment at Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur, Jinnah Hospital Lahore and Combined Military Hospital (CMH), of which 39 are stated to be in critical condition.

26 deceased have been identified so far and their families have been given compensation of Rs2 million each by the provincial government. Around 125 were laid to rest in a mass grave according to their DNA tests in a graveyard near their native place.

An initial inquiry carried out into the incident held the motorway police officers responsible for failing to cordon off the area where leaked oil spread after spilling from an overturned tanker.

Earlier, police had registered a case against the owner, driver, and manager of the oil tanker that caused at least 157 deaths and injured over 100 others.

The owner of Lakki Marwat Group’s oil tanker Haji Hasnain, Manager Khalid Razzaq, and driver Gul Muhammad have been nominated in the FIR. The case was registered on the complaint of a victim family under sections 109, 279, 322, 337, 427, and 435 of Pakistan Penal Code.

At least 157 people were burnt to death and dozens of others injured after an overturned oil tanker caught fire near Ahmed Pur Sharqia in the eastern city of Bahawalpur the day before Eidul Fitr.