MURREE:(PNP) A Murree school van fire injured 11 people, including 10 children, after a Suzuki Carry/Bolan reportedly lost control and caught fire on a local road on Tuesday morning, prompting police to investigate the cause of the incident and possible negligence.
District Police Officer (DPO) Raza Tanveer Supra said the incident occurred at about 7:15 a.m. after the vehicle apparently developed a brake problem. The van subsequently went out of control and caught fire.
The driver and a helper, assisted by local residents, evacuated the children from the vehicle. Police and Rescue 1122 teams later transported the injured to hospital for medical treatment.
The DPO said the initial assessment pointed to brake failure, but a formal inquiry was underway to establish the exact cause of the accident.
Murree school van fire leaves children injured
According to the DPO, the vehicle was carrying 12 people — 10 children and two adults, including the driver and a helper. The children were travelling from one village to three different schools, comprising both government and private institutions.
The vehicle was reportedly arranged locally by parents to provide transportation for the children.
No deaths were reported following the Murree school van fire. However, four children who sustained burns covering more than 25% of their bodies were referred to a burn unit in Rawalpindi for further treatment.
Two children were reported to have escaped with no significant injuries. Six others suffered burns affecting less than 10% of their bodies and were being treated at the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital in Murree.
The authorities said medical treatment was continuing and that the injured children would remain under medical supervision according to the severity of their wounds.
Preliminary report points to battery sparking
A preliminary report presented a different account of the vehicle’s occupants and recorded 11 people inside the van. Police have yet to reconcile that figure with the DPO’s statement that 12 people were travelling in the vehicle.
The preliminary report identified the vehicle as a 2006-model Suzuki Carry/Bolan with registration number KI-861. It said the vehicle was designed to accommodate eight adults or 10 children.
The report cited battery sparking as the reported cause of the fire. It also noted that the vehicle did not have a fire extinguisher.
Authorities recommended a comprehensive mechanical and technical examination to determine how the fire started and whether any mechanical defect contributed to the incident.
The difference between the preliminary report and the DPO’s account regarding the number of people in the vehicle is also expected to be clarified in the final inquiry report.
Police investigate possible negligence
Police are treating the incident as an accident while also examining whether negligence or a violation of safety requirements played any role.
DPO Supra said the driver’s immediate actions after the vehicle developed problems, including moving it aside and helping children escape, were taken into consideration. However, police would examine all aspects of the driver’s conduct as part of the investigation.
Officials are also checking the vehicle’s documentation, including its fitness certificate and route permit.
The investigation will determine whether the vehicle met the required safety standards and whether any mechanical, regulatory or operational violation contributed to the incident.
Murree police intensify school van inspections
The incident has prompted Murree police to order joint inspections of school vans and public transport vehicles by traffic and district police.
Officials said the inspections would focus on several safety-related issues, including passenger overloading, vehicle fitness, route permits, driving licences and the use of unsafe gas cylinders.
According to police, traffic authorities issued 11,092 challans to 10,808 vehicles during August and September as part of an ongoing enforcement campaign. Fines imposed during the period totalled Rs15.877 million.
The crackdown covered a range of traffic violations. Police recorded 1,682 cases involving passenger overloading and 566 cases related to cargo overloading.
Authorities also issued 78 challans over unsafe gas cylinders in public transport and registered three related cases.
Police took action against 576 vehicles operating without route permits and 11 vehicles that lacked fitness certificates.
Other violations included driving without licences, underage driving, absence of vehicle registration, failure to wear helmets or seat belts, use of mobile phones while driving, lane violations, obstruction of traffic and improper parking.
Vehicle fitness critical on mountain roads
Police officials stressed that vehicle maintenance is particularly important in mountainous areas such as Murree, where steep and winding roads require drivers to use brakes frequently.
Frequent braking on descending roads can place additional demands on braking components, making proper vehicle maintenance and inspection an important road-safety measure.
Authorities said the school van involved in the incident would undergo further scrutiny to determine its mechanical condition and compliance with legal requirements.
The police have also indicated that enforcement activity will be expanded to smaller local routes, rather than remaining focused only on major roads.
The move is intended to bring locally operated school transport and public vehicles under closer regulatory scrutiny.
Inquiry to determine exact cause
The final investigation is expected to establish whether brake failure, an electrical fault, inadequate vehicle maintenance or another factor caused the accident and subsequent fire.
The preliminary report’s reference to battery sparking and the DPO’s initial assessment of brake failure are therefore being treated as separate preliminary findings rather than a final determination.
Police said the inquiry would also examine possible negligence and any violations involving the vehicle’s fitness, route permit, driver credentials or passenger capacity.
For families relying on privately arranged school transport in mountainous communities, the incident highlights the importance of ensuring that vehicles used to carry children meet required safety and fitness standards.
Authorities said enforcement would continue and that the findings of the Murree investigation would guide any further legal or administrative action.
Conclusion
The Murree school van fire has resulted in injuries to children and adults but no reported fatalities. While police have identified possible brake failure and a preliminary report has cited battery sparking, the exact cause remains under investigation.
The authorities have ordered broader inspections of school vans and public transport in Murree, with particular attention to vehicle fitness, overloading, route permits, licences and other safety requirements. The final inquiry is expected to determine whether mechanical failure, negligence or regulatory violations contributed to the incident.
Naeem Akhtar plays a key role in shaping editorial content and maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and clarity. His dedication ensures that PNP’s coverage remains timely, reliable, and impactful for its readers worldwide.
