Rescue officials douse the flames after the accident in Narang Mandi city, north of Lahore, on Monday. Twitter photo

Gulf Today Report

At least 13 people, including women and children, were killed when a passenger van and a bus collided and caught fire in Sheikhupura district of Punjab province, Pakistan, on Monday, police said.

The vehicles were consumed by flames when a gas cylinder fitted in one of the vehicles exploded in the accident in Narang Mandi city, north of Lahore. The bus was travelling from Narowal to Lahore.

"Those killed included seven members of one family," police spokesman Manzoor Hussain said. "Four were burnt so badly that they could not be identified," he added.

Meanwhile, the rescue officials said that many among injured persons are in critical condition.

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The deceased persons are being said to belong the same family who were returning to Narowal from Lahore after attending a wedding ceremony. District Emergency Officer Rana Ejaz Ahmed said that the accident occurred due to smog. “The bus collided with a Toyota Hiace van due to less visibility on the road,” he stated.

He said that the LPG cylinder in the van exploded setting both the vehicles ablaze.

A police report said the van was carrying members of a wedding party. It blamed the bus driver for speeding, while a rescue official said fog was also a reason for the crash.

In a separate accident on Sunday, at least 11 people had died and four others sustained injuries after a truck overturned at Sangi area in Sukkur district of the Sindh province.

Rescue sources said at least 11 people including women and children succumbed to their injuries so far after a truck carrying the passengers and bricks overturned. "The vehicle was coming from Lahore to Karachi when it overturned near Sangi area in Sukkur,” they said adding that six children and three women were among the dead and they hailed from the same family.