Ten members of a family were tragically killed and 13 others sustained injuries after a passenger van veered off the road, plunged into a ravine, and caught fire on the Murree Expressway in northern Pakistan on Wednesday, according to motorway police officials.
Details of the Accident
The incident occurred near Khajjut on the Murree Expressway. A spokesperson for the National Highways and Motorway Police reported that the Hiace van lost control while negotiating a bend, fell into a ravine, and immediately burst into flames. The van landed on its side, preventing passengers from opening the doors to escape.
Victims and Rescue Operations
All occupants of the vehicle belonged to the same family and were traveling from Multan, a city in central Pakistan, to Murree, a popular hill resort in Punjab province. The van carried a large number of children, with police confirming that 10 of the passengers were minors. Rescue teams, motorway police personnel, and local authorities initiated emergency operations promptly after the crash.
Road accidents remain a significant public safety issue in Pakistan, where speeding, dangerous overtaking, poorly maintained vehicles, and challenging road conditions contribute to thousands of fatalities annually. Crashes on mountain roads are particularly deadly due to steep slopes, sharp bends, and difficult terrain that can impede rescue efforts.
