6 children were injured on Monday when a school van fire broke out in Karachi, authorities confirmed. The incident involved a vehicle belonging to Falcon Public School, according to initial reports from police and rescue teams.
Multiple news outlets reported that the school van fire erupted due to the vehicle overheating during the morning commute. Police later confirmed the same cause, ruling out any external ignition source. Earlier reports cited by Pakistan Observer suggested the fire might have been triggered by an electrical short circuit near Quba Mosque in Karachi’s Nazimabad area.
All injured children were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Hospital authorities reported that two children remain in critical condition, while others sustained minor burns. Medical Superintendent Dr Khalid Bukhari said one of the victims, nine-year-old Aishal, suffered 15 percent burns and is under treatment in the burns unit of Civil Hospital Karachi.
Police have taken the burnt vehicle into custody for forensic examination to confirm the cause of the Karachi school van fire. A detailed investigation is underway.
To avoid such incidents, the rescue officials and safety experts have called on schools and transport operators to conduct routine checks on their vehicles especially on engines, fuel lines, electrical systems and cooling systems. Schools in Karachi have also been ordered by the authorities to make sure that its vans are approved by qualified mechanics.
Parents are advised to verify the safety compliance of vehicles transporting their children. Officials said stricter penalties may be introduced for institutions failing to maintain proper safety standards.
