City Reporter
KARACHI: The death toll from Friday’s accident in which a hi-roof collided with a rickshaw
near the metropolis’s Powerhouse Chowrangi rose to eight on Saturday.The 'high-roof' vehicle had
caught fire after a short circuit and collided with another rickshaw as the driver lost control, killing eight
members of a family riding in the hi-roof.The deceased include 63-year-old Mujeeb-ur-Rehaman, 50-
year-old Nilofar and 35-year-old Meher-un-Nisa, the health department said, adding that 12-year-old
Laiba, 20-year-old Sufyan, nine-year-old Tufail and seven-year olds Mavia and Arsalan were also among
those killed.Also read: Six killed as van, rickshaw catch fire in Karachi The health department further said
that 45-year-old Nasir , 28-year-old Jamal and 12-year-old Hafsa were among the injured brought to the
Karachi Burns Centre.Two of injured brought to the hospital were in critical condition, according to Dr
Ahmer of the burns centre. "Both the injured in critical condition have severe burns on their faces," he
said. "One of the injured has 35 per cent of their body covered in burns, while the other has 80 per cent
of their body burned," Dr Ahmed said.Police said a rickshaw had also been engulfed in flames when it
collided with the van, which was already on fire.A bomb disposal squad and fire brigade were called to
ascertain why the van caught fire. Police said the cylinder of the van remained undamaged hence it was
unlikely its explosion caused the vehicle to burst into flames. According to SSP Central, the family which
fell victim to the accident were residents of Surjani Town. Moreover, funeral prayers for six out of the
eight victim of the accident was held on Saturday. The injured driver revealed that a man who was
smoking in the van was the reason for ablaze. According to police, a tank of gasoline was placed in the
van.
