Pakistan: At least 17 die in bus fire; PM Sharif offers condolences

On Wednesday night, at least 17 flood-affected people died of burns in Nooriabad, situated in Sindh, southern Pakistan, when the bus they were travelling in caught fire as they returning home, Reuters quoted officials as saying.

Around 35 people were travelling in the bus. Some passengers jumped out to escape the fire.

“So far, 17 passengers have died in the accident, [and] 10 were injured who were treated by rescue teams,” Siraj Qasim Soomro, parliamentary health secretary told reporters.

The fire was reportedly caused by a fault in the air-conditioning system of the coach.

"Those who were travelling in the bus were flood affected people who had relocated somewhere off the motorway, and they were heading back home in Dadu district," Jamshoro District Commissioner Asif Jameel told Reuters.

They were using private transport for this purpose, Jameel added.

Dadu district is among the worst flood-hit districts of the Sindh province.

It was not immediately clear as to what caused the fire, but police said that the fire seemed to have erupted from the rear portion of the bus, after which it engulfed the entire bus.

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