Hospital workers carry in the first victims of an oil tanker explosion in Bahawalpur at Nishtar hospital in Multan, Pakistan, on June 25, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] ISLAMABAD - The deadly oil tanker fire that claimed at least 123 lives and wounded over 100 others in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province on Sunday morning could be caused by smoking, said police. Imran Shah, spokesman of Pakistan Motorway Police, a top body in charge of the security issues of motors in the country, said that initial investigation suggested that the fire broke out after someone on the spot lit a cigarette. Further probe into the incident is still underway, he said. Earlier on Sunday morning, a fully packed oil tanker skidded off the road after tire burst on a highway in Ahmad Pur Shaqia, a small town lying about 400 km southwest of Lahore, capital city of Punjab province. The fire broke out after many people from nearby villages came in motorbikes to collect the oil spilled out from the capsized oil tanker, said eyewitnesses. A total of 75 motorbikes and six vehicles including a traffic police vehicle were burnt out in the fire, said police. The site is littered with numerous bodies burned beyond recognition, said eyewitnesses. Three fire engines rushed to the site following the report of the oil tanker fire which broke out at about 6:23 am local time, said fire engine department officials, adding that it took them hours to have the fire put off. Several helicopters have been dispatched to the site for rescue work, said Inter-Service Public Relations, a media wing of Pakistan Army, in a statement. Due to the lack of doctors and facilities for burn injuries, many of the seriously burned have been shifted to hospitals in the nearby cities of Bahawalpur and Multan. Muhammad Baqir, an official in charge of the rescue work, said that 123 people were killed in the fire while over 100 others suffered from burn injuries to different degrees. Dr. Aurangzeb, Medical Superintendent of Victoria Hospital in Bahawalpur, a district which Ahmad Pur Shaqia falls under jurisdiction, confirmed that 120 bodies and over 100 injured people have been received by different hospitals in the district. The death toll could further rise as 31 injured people are in critical condition, he said. Latest reports coming in said that the death toll from the oil tanker fire has risen to 140, but the figure is not officially confirmed. Both Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have expressed deep sorrows over the loss of so many precious lives in the incident. Sharif, who is currently abroad on a private trip, instructed all the concerned authorities to provide the best available medical treatment for the fire victims. 24 hour wristbandsbracelet maker onlinedesign your own wristbandwrist band com coupon codecustom silicone bands24 hour bracelets
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers a speech during an inspection to the navy under the Northern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, June 11, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua] JINAN - President Xi Jinping has stressed building an elite maritime force to resolutely accomplish various missions entrusted by the Party and the people. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the call during an inspection to the navy under the Northern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on June 11. Xi emphasized the need to resolutely implement the Party's thinking on strengthening the military for the new era and continue to enhance the political loyalty of the armed forces, strengthen them through reform and technology, and run them in accordance with law. Xi also spoke of the need for the navy to meet the requirements of transformation. Xi visited a submarine force around 3:30 pm Monday as a summer breeze rustled through the trees on the coast of Qingdao, East China's Shandong province. At port was a new-type submarine which had taken part in the recent naval parade in the South China Sea. On the hull, soldiers stood in formation waiting to be inspected. Xi went aboard and chatted with them, asking about their work and life. The president said he is always concerned about soldiers who spend years of their life on submarines deep under the sea. As he learned that the soldiers were dedicated to their career, worked hard, and had accomplished their tasks, Xi nodded his head in appreciation. The president then went down into the cabins to learn about the weapons and ammunition. He encouraged soldiers to remain firm in ideals and convictions, build a strong team, and train themselves to excel in skills. Xi signed his name on the logbook. Before leaving the dock, Xi walked toward another submarine nearby and waved to the soldiers. Xi inspected the training of the submarine force at a comprehensive simulation facility. How is simulation-based training going? Can the facilities meet the demands? Are there any challenges? the president asked. He was pleased to learn that the soldiers benefit a lot from the training and spoke of the need to continue to improve training infrastructure. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a submarine during an inspection to the navy under the Northern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, June 11, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua] Xi watched a group of trainees undergo a sonar recognition exercise. He joined to test them and gave a thumbs-up to a soldier who gave the correct answer. Xi met with senior navy officers at the navy headquarters of the Northern Theater Command and took a group photo with them. He listened to the command's naval work report and gave an important speech. Xi spoke of the need to grasp the changes of national security circumstances, speed up preparations for military struggle, including battle planning, capacity building and command system building. Xi said the intensity of training needs to be enhanced, its modules to be innovated, and its supervision to be strengthened. He stressed the need for targeted training, training for commanders, and training under combat conditions. He called for efforts to implement the requirements for the transformation of the navy, accelerate the work to improve elite combat forces, and focus on tackling areas of weakness and making breakthroughs. Forward-looking plans and top-level designs are also needed to promote the transformation and development of naval air forces, Xi said. Xi also stressed the absolute Party leadership over the armed forces and ceaseless work to improve Party conduct, enforce Party discipline and fight corruption. Ideological work within the military should be strengthened and combat capability should be regarded as the criterion for military building, Xi said. He urged the navy to coordinate with civilian departments, innovate in institutions and mechanisms and development models to improve military-civilian integration. On Thursday morning in Jinan, capital of Shandong, Xi met with senior officers of troops stationed in the province. CMC Vice Chairman Xu Qiliang attended the events.
