Rickshaw driver sets himself on fire, ‘hugs’ traffic warden with flames

LAHORE: In a disturbing incident, a rickshaw driver in Lahore set himself on fire before embracing a traffic warden in flames in the densely populated area of Data Darbar.

Lahore traffic police spokesman Rana Arif said that the rickshaw driver reportedly poured gasoline from his rickshaw over himself, ignited it and ran toward the traffic warden, embracing him from behind which left both of them severly injured. They were immediately shifted to the hospital for treatment.

Rana Arif told Independent Urdu that the incident happened when the traffic warden asked all rickshaw drivers to relocate their vehicles from a no-parking area to a nearby designated parking zone.

 While other drivers complied, one rickshaw driver refused to move his vehicle.

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The police warden reportedly walked away after directing the driver to relocate his vehicle. However, the driver got off his rickshaw, removed his shirt, poured gasoline on himself, and set himself on fire before running toward the traffic warden named Waqar, embracing him from behind.

“The driver’s body was already in flames when he hugged Waqar from behind,” Arif said adding that Waqar pushed him off, but by then, Waqar’s uniform had caught fire, causing burns on his neck, arms, and chest.

Other traffic officers nearby quickly extinguished the flames on both men and transported them to Mayo Hospital for emergency care.

Initial reports indicated that the driver, who sustained 20 per cent of burns to his body, had been under extreme mental distress after the death of his child recently due to electrocution.

Traffic Assistant Waqar suffered burns to 40 per cent of his body.

The warden was shifted to Jinnah Hospital’s burn unit for specialized care.

The Lahore traffic police spokesperson said that legal action would be taken against the rickshaw driver for his action.