At least 40 people were killed, most of them women and children, and about a dozen injured when fire broke out in a bus carrying passengers returning from wedding party here in Ghaziabad, on Sunday night.
The tragic incident took place when a jubilant youngster threw out a cracker from the bus, which unexpectedly exploded inside the vehicle. The sparks reached the petrol tank that caught fire, which all of a sudden engulfed the entire vehicle. As many as 60-70 marriage attendants were in the ill-fated vehicle, with majority being women and children.
Police has confirmed 40 deaths while according to SSP Operations Aamir Zulfiqar the death toll could exceed as only 12 passengers were able to save their lives miraculously, of which four were in critical condition and being treated at Mayo and Shalimar Hospitals.
According to eyewitnesses, rescue teams could not reach swiftly because of the closure of Mughalpura railways crossing. Till filing of this report, rescue workers, including army men, were busy in removing badly charred bodies from the burnt out wreckage of the bus and no body could be identified. However, bangles found from the spot showed that most of the dead were women, rescue workers said.
Emergency has been enforced in the city hospitals, while provincial health minister Tahir Ali Javed visited Mayo hospital and enquired upon the health of the injured. He directed the doctors and medical staff to provide all possible treatment to the injured.
Noorullah, Shani, Rana Arif, Muzammil, Abdullah, Abdul Maalik, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Kashif, Qaisar Sultana, Shamim and a minor girl whose name could not be known were admitted in Mayo Hospital.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister expressed grief over the loss of precious lives in the incident.