Bus driver burnt alive in tragic accident on motorway in Punjab
- A bus carrying 45 passengers collided with a mini-truck, leading to a destructive fire.
- Syed Asghar Ali, the driver, died in the blaze while seven passengers sustained injuries.
- The need for improved road safety measures has been emphasized following these tragic events.
On April 11, 2025, a tragic accident unfolded in Punjab, Pakistan, when a bus collided with a mini-truck loaded with pesticides on motorway M-4, near the Nawan Lahore interchange. The bus was en route from Dera Ghazi Khan to Rawalpindi, carrying 45 passengers. Following the collision, both the bus and the mini-truck were engulfed in flames. The driver, Syed Asghar Ali from Khushab, was unable to escape the inferno and lost his life while passengers heard his cries for help. Seven individuals suffered injuries in the blaze, highlighting the perilous nature of road travel in the region. Among the injured passengers were Sana Fatima, Mugheesur Rahman, Malik Muhammad Ishfaq, Tehreem Bibi, Rashida Majeed, Athar Hussain, and Abu Bakr, who received medical attention for their wounds. The intensity of the flames rendered it impossible for fellow passengers to rescue the driver, revealing the harrowing circumstances faced during the incident. Eyewitness accounts depict a scene of chaos as passengers scrambled to safety amidst the burning vehicles, illustrating the dangers inherent in daily commutes on Pakistan's busy roads. In a more severe incident on the same day, another vehicle collision claimed the lives of two individuals when a speeding truck overturned a car on the Jhang-Gojra Bypass Road. The truck initially crashed into a road divider before veering onto the car, causing the fatality of car riders Sanaullah (45) and his brother Habibullah (35). A third occupant, Sardar Ali (62), sustained critical injuries and was rushed to Jhang DHQ hospital for urgent care. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the frequent and devastating accidents that plague transport systems in the region, raising concerns about road safety regulations and vehicle maintenance. With the occurrence of these incidents, there is a pressing need for authorities to address road safety measures more vigorously. The loss of life and injuries from such preventable accidents must prompt policy discussions to enhance oversight over vehicle conditions and speed regulations, thereby safeguarding the well-being of the traveling public in Punjab. It is essential for the government to assess barriers and implement effective strategies to reduce the risks of further tragedies on the roads.