Murree School Van Fire Victim Dies After Saving Children

RAWALPINDI: A 14-year-old student who suffered critical burn injuries while trying to save other children from a burning school van in Murree has died at Holy Family Hospital, turning a transport safety incident into a national concern over school vehicle fitness and child protection.

The student, identified as Ayesha Kaleem, was a ninth-class pupil. She had sustained severe burns after the school van she was travelling in veered off the road, rolled down and caught fire in Murree. Officials said she was among the children shifted to Rawalpindi for specialised treatment after the incident.

According to police and hospital details, the van was carrying 12 schoolchildren when it went off the road and caught fire. Several children were injured, while four were referred to Holy Family Hospital because of the seriousness of their burns. Some of the less seriously injured children were treated at the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Murree.

Ayesha reportedly received burns over a large portion of her body while helping rescue other students who were trapped in the vehicle. She later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital and was laid to rest in Murree. The case has drawn public attention because of her reported attempt to save other children during the fire.

Three other injured children remained under treatment after the incident. Officials identified the critically injured students as Arham Ali, Hassan Talib and Abdullah Kaleem, with varying degrees of burn injuries. Doctors continued monitoring the patients after they were shifted to Rawalpindi for care.

Police said an FIR had been registered and that a committee had been formed to determine the cause of the fire. The district police officer said children had reported hearing an explosion before the vehicle caught fire, but the final cause would be known after the inquiry committee submitted its findings.

The van driver and his daughter were also among the injured. Authorities said the school transport accident had raised serious questions about vehicle fitness, overloading, route safety and the use of vehicles that may not meet proper standards for carrying students in hilly areas.

Traffic officials appealed to parents and school administrations to choose only legally approved, fit and safe vehicles for children’s pick-and-drop services. They said driver licences, vehicle fitness, passenger capacity and fire-safety arrangements should be checked before children are allowed to travel.

The incident is expected to intensify scrutiny of school transport enforcement in Murree and other parts of Punjab. Officials said child safety is a shared responsibility of parents, schools, transporters and regulators, and negligence in school transport arrangements can put children’s lives at serious risk.