DERA GHAZI KHAN: Five members of a family were burnt to death while five others were injured when a van carrying wedding guests caught fire near Shamsabad, Rojhan on Saturday.

Sourced told Dawn that a family of Rojhan was going to attend a wedding near Kotla Naseer village when the van (operating on gas cylinder) they were travelling by caught fire on the Indus Highway near toll plaza. A woman and four children were fatally burnt in the accident while five others suffered burns and were shifted to the Rojhan THQ hospital.

The deceased were identified as Farzana Bibi, 36, wife of Safdar, Naveed, 4, son of Nadeem, Sajida Bibi, daughter of Nadeem, Bashiran Bibi, 3, and Javeria Bibi, 3, daughters of Aleem. Those injured were Sher Muhammad, 6, son of Safdar, Zeeshan, 5, son of Rasheed, Ayesha, 8, daughter of Safdar, Jameela Mai, 42, and Sidra Bibi, 6. They were taken to Rojhan THQ hospital.

“Vans using gas cylinders are freely operating in Rojhan despite a ban,” said a resident. He said the post of assistant commissioner, Rojhan, had been lying vacant for the last several months as there was no proper checking of cylinders.

DSP Fiazul Hassan said a case would be registered against the driver and the conductor of the van.

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar took notice of the accident and directed the commissioner to ensure best possible treatment of the injured. He also sought a report about the accident.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2021