QUETTA: Six people burned to death and seven others were badly injured after a bus caught fire following a collision with a rickshaw, carrying flammable material, in the Western Bypass area of the provincial capital on Tuesday.

According to police, the bus was en route to the Hazar Ganji area from Nawan Killi when it collided with a rickshaw coming from the opposite direction. Both the bus and the rickshaw caught fire. The flames quickly engulfed the entire bus, leaving passengers with no time to escape.

Fire tenders arrived shortly after the incident and extinguished the blaze.

“Six passengers were burnt to death and seven others seriously injured in the fire,” a senior police officer said.

Witnesses say rickshaw loaded with smuggled petrol caused inferno

Witnesses said the rickshaw was loaded with smuggled petrol, which caused the massive fire, leading to the high number of casualties.

Police and rescue workers shifted the bodies and the injured to a hospital.

Hospital officials said the charred bodies are burnt beyond recognition and would be identified through DNA testing. Five of the injured have been identified as Muhammad Naeem, Ama­nu­llah, Rehmatullah, Ehsa­nullah and Abdul Salam.

“The condition of three of the injured is critical,” police said.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti expressed deep sorrow over the incident. He also announced that a fire brigade station would soon be established in the Sariab area to improve emergency response.

Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind also expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. He confirmed that an inquiry into the incident has been launched and that the provincial government will provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2025