THATTA: An oil tanker caught fire which completely destroyed the vehicle after it overturned on the Hyderabad-Thatta road near the Keenjhar police station on Thursday.

The incident left the driver critically injured while the cleaner narrowly escaped by jumping from the vehicle.

According to police and eyewitnesses, the tanker was transporting fuel from Hyderabad to Thatta when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to turn turtle near the police station.

The impact triggered a massive blaze that quickly engulfed the entire vehicle.

“The flames were so intense they could be seen from several kilometers away,” an eyewitness told Dawn.

The driver, whose identity could not be immediately established, sustained severe burn injuries. But the cleaner managed to leap out of the cabin and saved his life just as the tanker overturned.

The injured driver was rushed to the Civil Hospital of Makli where doctors described his condition as precarious.

The incident caused panic in the locality and the main Thatta-Hyderabad road was temporarily closed to all traffic to prevent further casualties from a potential secondary explosion.

Local residents and travelers criticised the delay in the arrival of fire brigade units, noting that the tanker had already been reduced to ashes by the time fire tenders reached the spot.

Police officials stated that the road had since been cleared for traffic.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2026