Student who risked life to save other children in Murree school van fire succumbs to burn injuries

A 9th grade student, Ayesha Kaleem, lost her life after sustaining severe burn injuries while attempting to rescue other children during a tragic school van fire in Murree. The unfortunate incident occurred on Tuesday when the school van veered off the road and caught fire due to an explosion, causing the van to roll down and burn.

Ayesha, who was among the four critically-burnt victims, received over 45% burns during the rescue mission. She was admitted to the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) on Wednesday and succumbed to her injuries. The remaining three severely burnt students, Arham Ali, 8, with 60% burns; Abdullah Kaleem, 11, with 5% burns; and Hassan Talib, 8, with 26% burns, are currently receiving treatment at the HFH.

Following the incident, police have constituted a committee to investigate the cause of the fire. The van driver and his daughter were also among the injured, and an FIR has been registered. Chief Traffic Officer Murree, Munir Ahmed Hashmi, has urged parents to prioritize safety over cost while choosing vehicles for their children's school journey, emphasizing the potential dangers of unsafe vehicles.