At least 120 burn to death in oil tanker fire in Pakistan's Bahawalpur

At least 120 people died after an oil tanker caught fire in Punjab, Pakistan today morning, Pakistani media reported. The tragedy occurred after the tanker overturned on a highway and locals gathered around the truck to collect fuel.

Pakistani media outlets reported that the injured were moved to Bahawal Victoria Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital in critical conditions and that the death toll is expected to rise. Several of those injured had suffered 70 per cent burn injuries.

According to Geo TV, dozens of cars and motorcycles parked in the vicinity were charred in the incident. Dawn reported that two fire engines were involved in the rescue operations and that the blaze was eventually brought under control. The high death toll could be put down to people gathering around the tanker in the aftermath of it overturning.