Six people were killed and two others injured as a van they were travelling in, caught fire in Karachi's Garden area on Sunday The ill-fated incident occurred near Karachi Zoo in Garden area when the family was going on a picnic. As the van caught fire, passers-by began dousing the flames themselves and rescued the trapped passengers.
The police what they said that the van's gas cylinders are intact and short-circuiting could be behind the fire. However, they were yet to determine the exact nature of the fire as investigations are under way. The van's passengers - 11 in total - were on the way to a picnic, according to the injured family members. There were four children inside the van when it burst into flames.
The deceased include three men, two women and one child. Two volunteer relief workers and two van passengers including 17-year-old Maryam and eight-year-old Shehroze were among the injured. The volunteers were later discharged from the hospital after medical aid whereas the other two are still under treatment at the Karachi Civil Hospital (CHK). The driver suspiciously fled from the scene, according to police officials. Officials at the scene explained that four of the van's passengers were pulled out in time, but added that they have suffered severe injuries.