At least 140 people were burnt to death when an oil tanker caught fire in Bahawalpur's Ahmedpur Sharqia Sunday morning, Geo News reported according to Pakistani rescue sources.

More than 40 people were reported injured and taken to Bahawal Victoria Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital Sharqia in critical condition, said Rescue 1122 Director General Dr Rizwan Naseer. 

Most of those taken to the hospitals got 70% burn injuries, while more deaths are feared.

People in the area had gathered to collect fuel that was leaking from the oil tanker after it toppled over, said the rescue sources. 

The victims, mostly from the locality near by, had rushed to the site with utensils to collect oil spilling from the overturned tanker. 

Eyewitnesses said some people in the vicinity were smoking cigarettes, which could have ignited the inferno.

Dozens of vehicles, including 75 motorbikes and four cars, were engulfed in the blaze that erupted in Pul Paka near the National Highway, an area located in the middle of the city.

Source: MENA