It was meant to be just another journey for the children walking home from school. Rather, an everyday school van ride turned into a horrifying ordeal when the van crashed off Sign Road in Masiari, Murree and caught fire, injuring 11 children.

Police said the accident occurred after the van’s brakes failed. The car swerved off the road, and shortly then was engulfed in flames, leaving it gutted. Local people rushed to help get the children to safety until rescue teams and firefighters arrived and got the blaze under control.

Four children suffered severe burns and were sent to Rawalpindi hospitals for further treatment. Arham, eight, was burned over about 38 per cent of his body whereas Hassan Talib was burned over about 26 per cent. Ayesha, who is also eight years old, had burns covering about 42 per cent of her body.

Eight children with minor injuries were brought to the District Headquarters Hospital, Murree. Six children suffered burns to less than 10 per cent of their bodies and two children escaped burns, police said.

The incident has once again thrown the spotlight on the safety of school transport. Murree District Police Officer Raza Tanveer Supra said vehicle fitness checks would be conducted on vehicles operating in rural areas. Police are also investigating the accident, and legal proceedings are under way.

The crash follows other serious road accidents in Murree in recent months including incidents that claimed multiple lives.

The latest accident brings a simple but pressing question for parents: are the vehicles carrying children being checked properly before they hit the roads? The fitness inspections planned could provide an important step toward answering it.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)