Balloon blast: Three killed, 11 injured in cylinder blast

HYDERABAD: A man and two children died and 11 others were injured during a gas cylinder explosion in Tando Allahyar district on Sunday. The incident occurred when a balloon vendor was surrounded by children in a market in Qila area. Eight injured persons, including children, were referred to Civil Hospital Hyderabad while the remaining were taken to a local hospital. Seven-year-old Sania, daughter of Shahid and an elderly man, who is yet to be identified, died before reaching the hospital. Daniyal, 10, son of Khalid, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Two children, who are yet to be identified, were admitted in the hospital’s burns ward. The injured have been identified as Kirat, 5, Asma, 7, Shujat Ali, 10, Muhammad Moiz,,11, Ume Fiza,10, Muhammad Wasif, 12, and 30-year-old balloon vendor Abdul Ghaffar. The Private Schools Association of Tando Allahyar announced that schools will remain closed on January 25 to mourn the deaths.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th,  2016.