MULTAN, Pakistan: A bus in Pakistan caught fire after hitting a van parked on the shoulder of an intercity highway in eastern Punjab province, killing at least 18 people and injuring 13 others, police and rescue officials said Sunday.
The accident occurred early Sunday near Pindi Bhattian, where the Islamabad-bound bus hit a van parked on the shoulder of the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway, senior police officer Fahad Ahmed said. The van was carrying fuel drums, which caused an inferno that engulfed the bus, Ahmed said.
There were more than 40 passengers on the bus, Ahmed said. Those who were rescued were badly burned, including several in critical condition. Other passengers were slightly injured with burns after escaping through the windows.
The drivers of both vehicles died, police said.
Such accidents happen frequently on Pakistan’s highways, where safety standards are often ignored and traffic regulations violated. Fatigued drivers also fall asleep behind the wheel during long drives.
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Bus engulfed in flames after hitting van in Pakistan, killing 18 people and injuring 13 others
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Bus engulfed in flames after hitting van in Pakistan, killing 18 people and injuring 13 others
- Accident occurred early Sunday near Pindi Bhattian, where the Islamabad-bound bus hit a van parked on the shoulder of the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway
Russian strikes on Ukraine kill 3: officials
KYIV: Overnight Russian strikes on Odesa and Kharkiv killed at least three people, Ukrainian officials said early Monday.
Iranian-made drones pummelled the southern port city of Odesa, igniting fires and damaging apartment buildings and a gas pipeline, according to Sergiy Lysak, head of the city’s military administration.
“A 35-year-old man died as a result of the nighttime attack. Two people were also wounded, including a 19-year-old girl,” he posted in an update.
Regional governor Oleg Kiper said the city was “massively attacked” and confirmed the fires, but did not immediately have information on the toll.
Farther north in the Kharkiv region, state emergency services said they had recovered the bodies of a woman and a 10-year-old boy after a drone attack.
“Three more people were wounded,” the services added in a post on Telegram.
Russia has continued bombarding its neighbor while engaging in US-backed talks to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
Though Washington wants to see the war end by mid-year, Kyiv and Moscow remain at odds over territorial divisions, with Russia pushing for full control of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region as part of any deal.
Russia occupies around 20 percent of Ukraine’s land.
Iranian-made drones pummelled the southern port city of Odesa, igniting fires and damaging apartment buildings and a gas pipeline, according to Sergiy Lysak, head of the city’s military administration.
“A 35-year-old man died as a result of the nighttime attack. Two people were also wounded, including a 19-year-old girl,” he posted in an update.
Regional governor Oleg Kiper said the city was “massively attacked” and confirmed the fires, but did not immediately have information on the toll.
Farther north in the Kharkiv region, state emergency services said they had recovered the bodies of a woman and a 10-year-old boy after a drone attack.
“Three more people were wounded,” the services added in a post on Telegram.
Russia has continued bombarding its neighbor while engaging in US-backed talks to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
Though Washington wants to see the war end by mid-year, Kyiv and Moscow remain at odds over territorial divisions, with Russia pushing for full control of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region as part of any deal.
Russia occupies around 20 percent of Ukraine’s land.
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