DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A fire broke out in a cargo truck at Maahra in Dera Ismail Khan district on the Indus Highway, prompting authorities to shut the road and causing long queues of vehicles on both sides.

According to rescue sources, the incident occurred near Dhora Solahn Adda in the district’s Paroa tehsil, where a trailer loaded with cloth suddenly caught fire, and the blaze intensified within moments.

Thick plumes of smoke spread across the area, creating panic among commuters and nearby residents.

Officials said traffic on the highway remained fully suspended due to the fire, while rescue teams reached the site and launched efforts to extinguish the flames.

Rescue authorities confirmed that no loss of life had been reported so far, though significant financial losses were feared.

Commuters have been advised to use alternate routes and avoid the affected area until the situation is brought under control.

Accidents are common on highways and motorways across Pakistan, caused by reckless driving, speeding, driver fatigue, and poor vehicle maintenance. Poor road conditions contribute to mishaps, while weak enforcement of traffic laws allows violations to go unchecked, worsening the situation.

At least nine people were injured in a road accident near the Matani Bypass in KP earlier this month, after a passenger van, travelling from Shakardara to Peshawar, lost control due to the driver’s error and met with an accident near the bypass.

The previous week, a motorway police inspector, who was providing assistance following a traffic accident, lost his life after being struck by a truck near the Hazara Motorway.