A fire broke out in a passenger coach travelling from Karachi to Quetta near Uthal, Lasbela, resulting in the death of three passengers and injuries to eleven others.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the accident occurred last night when the passenger coach collided with a motorcycle carrying oil.
The transport sources said the coach was en route to Quetta from Karachi with 28 passengers on board. Three of them were burnt alive when the coach caught fire after a collision with a bike.
Lasbela Deputy Commissioner Humaira Baloch and SSP Captain (Retd) Naveed Alam reached the spot and shifted the dead bodies to the hospital.
Naveed said the accident was caused by overtaking. He said the final assessment of the damage will be provided once the cooling process of the burnt coach is complete.
Deputy Commissioner Humaira Baloch said rescue operations were promptly initiated.
The district administration confirmed that the bodies of the three deceased passengers had been transferred to the hospital and efforts are underway to determine the cause of the fire.
The district Lasbela administration said among the deceased, two were from Karachi and one from Hub Chowki.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti took the notice of the accident and directed authorities to provide immediate and adequate medical care to all the injured and to conduct a thorough investigation to determine responsibility.
He also emphasized the need to enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) for passenger safety and the prevention of road accidents.
Interior Minister condoles
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed deep sorrow and regret over the death of three people in the incident of fire in a passenger bus in Uthal, Lasbela.
Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement that he was deeply saddened and shocked by the loss of lives in the tragic accident. He expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for patience for them.
Reporter: Essa Tarin