MURREE: At least four people were killed and 12 others injured when a tourist Toyota Hiace caught fire near Khajut on the Murree Expressway on Wednesday, officials said.
Rescue officials said the fire broke out suddenly in the moving vehicle, causing intense flames and panic among passengers. The van lost control and fell into a roadside drain, disrupting traffic on the busy highway.
The burning vehicle was completely destroyed. The fire also spread to a nearby patch of forest before it was brought under control by rescue teams and locals.
Rescue officials said local residents reached the scene first and pulled out trapped passengers before emergency services arrived. The victims were shifted to nearby hospitals.
Five injured persons were taken to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad. Three others were moved to a private hospital in Rawalpindi. Remaining injured were shifted to hospitals in Murree and nearby health facilities.
Officials said several injured persons were in critical condition.
Rescue 1122 faced delays in reaching the site, according to local sources. However, residents assisted in initial rescue efforts.
Witnesses said a group of tourists was traveling in the vehicle when it suddenly caught fire. The situation turned critical within minutes.
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Rescue sources said the vehicle slipped off the road into the drain after the fire spread uncontrollably.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
