DHAKA: Thirteen people were killed on Sunday morning (July 30) as a van carrying the passengers caught on fire after hitting a gas pipeline in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports DAWN quoting rescue officials.

The van was travelling from Rawalpindi to Peshawar when it collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction at Abbottabad Chowk on Hassan Abdaal road. 

The van then hit the main gas pipeline in the area and a fire erupted, engulfing the vehicle and all 13 passengers.

According to rescue officials, the bodies of the victims have been severely burnt and therefore, identification through DNA testing may not be possible.

Police personnel as well as rescue officials arrived at the scene of the incident soon after the blaze was reported and gained control over the fire shortly after. 

The bodies were then removed from the van and transferred to District Headquarters Hospital Hassan Abdaal.

BDST: 1247 HRS, JUL 30, 2017
SI