GUJRAT: Villagers in Gujrat’s neighborhood spent a gloomy day Sunday, mourning the death of 17 school children who were burnt to death when a gas cylinder was leaked in their vehicle on Saturday,
A lady teacher also lost his life in the fatal incident which took place near Kot Fateh area in Gujrat town of Punjab.
Many of the victims, aged between four and ten, were perished in the cylinder blast while 11 others badly injured. Later, the death toll climbed to 17.
The injured are being treated in CMH Kharian and Lahore. Some of them are said to be in critical condition.
According to hospital administration, most of the dead bodies were beyond recognition. They were on their way to school when gas cylinder of the van leaked and caused fire inside van.
Many vehicles in energy-starved Pakistan are powered by relatively cheap compressed natural gas and cylinder blasts are common.
Police said driver of the dual-fuel van, identified as Irfan, escaped immediately after the explosion. However, he was arrested from Kharian.
Irfan, during the investigation, revealed that he was being Rs6000 monthly, adding that the blast occurred when he switched the van from gas to petrol.
A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the deadly incident.
Irfan was presented in a local court today and was handed over to police on physical remand.
