<p>At least 18 flood survivors, including eight children and nine women, died of severe burns in Pakistan, when an overcrowded air-conditioned bus they were travelling in caught fire, police officials said on Thursday.</p>.<p>The incident happened near the Nooribad police station in Pakistan’s Sindh province on Wednesday night.</p>.<p>The bus with 80 flood-affected people on board, was heading towards Karachi from Khairpur Nathan Shah, in Dadu district, according to Geo.tv.</p>.<p>Deputy Commissioner Jamshoro confirmed that the number of fatalities has risen to 18, which included eight children and nine women, the report said.</p>.<p>"The fire may have been caused by a short circuit in the air conditioner," the report said, quoting police officials.</p>.<p>Some passengers even jumped out of the bus to escape the fire, police said.</p>.<p>According to the police, rescue work is underway, and firefighters have rushed to the scene to douse the flames, while the injured were shifted to a local hospital in Jamshoro and Nooribad.</p>.<p>Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has directed the deputy commissioner and superintendent police of Jamshoro to ramp up rescue efforts.</p>.<p>Murad has demanded a report from officials on the incident.</p>.<p>Dadu district is among the worst flood-hit districts in Sindh province.</p>.<p>More than 1,700 people have been killed, 33 million displaced and a third of the country was submerged under water in the worst floods to hit Pakistan, brought about by unprecedented rains since mid-June.</p>.<p>Bus fires are common in Pakistan, where safety standards are compromised and traffic rules are often flouted.</p>
<p>At least 18 flood survivors, including eight children and nine women, died of severe burns in Pakistan, when an overcrowded air-conditioned bus they were travelling in caught fire, police officials said on Thursday.</p>.<p>The incident happened near the Nooribad police station in Pakistan’s Sindh province on Wednesday night.</p>.<p>The bus with 80 flood-affected people on board, was heading towards Karachi from Khairpur Nathan Shah, in Dadu district, according to Geo.tv.</p>.<p>Deputy Commissioner Jamshoro confirmed that the number of fatalities has risen to 18, which included eight children and nine women, the report said.</p>.<p>"The fire may have been caused by a short circuit in the air conditioner," the report said, quoting police officials.</p>.<p>Some passengers even jumped out of the bus to escape the fire, police said.</p>.<p>According to the police, rescue work is underway, and firefighters have rushed to the scene to douse the flames, while the injured were shifted to a local hospital in Jamshoro and Nooribad.</p>.<p>Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has directed the deputy commissioner and superintendent police of Jamshoro to ramp up rescue efforts.</p>.<p>Murad has demanded a report from officials on the incident.</p>.<p>Dadu district is among the worst flood-hit districts in Sindh province.</p>.<p>More than 1,700 people have been killed, 33 million displaced and a third of the country was submerged under water in the worst floods to hit Pakistan, brought about by unprecedented rains since mid-June.</p>.<p>Bus fires are common in Pakistan, where safety standards are compromised and traffic rules are often flouted.</p>