KARACHI: At least five people died and 20 others got injured due to gas explosion in a four-storey building near MaskanChowrangi here at Gulshan-e-Iqbal area on Wednesday.
Security forces cordoned off the area and shifted the injured and the dead to a local hospital. Seven of the injured are said to be in critical condition.
The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) said in a report that the massive blast was caused due to gas leakage. Citing an initial investigation, the BDS said that it couldn’t find any evidence from the spot suggesting that the explosion was caused by any explosive material.
The incident took place in a building near Abul Hassan Ispahani Road, Gulshan Iqbal, leaving a portion of the four-storey building collapse. Loud blast rocked the area in the morning and the impact of the explosion shattered window panes of the nearby buildings, according to witnesses.
Two floors and two shops in a portion of the building have been demolished. Among 20 injured, seven to eight are said to be in a precarious condition. A traffic police official, who was on duty on the road, was also said to be seriously injured in the explosion.
According to reports, 15 injured of the incident and three bodies were shifted to a nearby private hospital, while three injured to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and one to the Jinnah Hospital.
The explosion also damaged three cars and six motorbikes.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took notice of the explosion and sought a detailed report of the incident from the Karachi commissioner. The chief minister has also directed authorities to provide immediate medical aid to the injured. He also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life, said a spokesperson.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also expressed grief over the loss of lives, said a statement from the party.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in an explosion in Karachi. In a tweet, he expressed sympathy with the bereaved families and prayed for early recovery of the injured. – TLTP