At least 10 people died Wednesday after a tourist van overturned and caught fire on the Islamabad-Murree Expressway [1].
The accident highlights the recurring dangers of tourist transport on Pakistan's mountainous roads, where vehicle stability and safety protocols are frequently scrutinized during peak travel seasons.
The vehicle was carrying 23 passengers from Multan [1]. According to rescue officials, the van overturned while negotiating a turn near Khajat, also reported as Khajut [1, 2]. The crash was followed by a fire that engulfed the vehicle, trapping passengers inside.
Emergency responders said 13 people were injured in the incident [1]. Rescue teams worked to extract survivors from the wreckage and transport them to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the crash. While the vehicle's movement during the turn led to the overturn, officials have not yet confirmed if mechanical failure or driver error contributed to the disaster [1, 2].
Local rescue officials said the fire intensified the severity of the casualties. The proximity of the crash to the Khajat area allowed for a rapid response, though the intensity of the flames hindered immediate extraction efforts [1].
“At least 10 people died Wednesday after a tourist van overturned and caught fire”
This incident underscores the critical safety risks associated with high-occupancy tourist vehicles navigating the steep and winding terrain of the Murree Expressway. The high fatality rate relative to the number of passengers suggests that the rapid onset of fire following the overturn left victims with little chance of escape, pointing to a potential need for improved vehicle safety standards and emergency egress protocols for tourist transport in Pakistan.
