Gas leakage blast: One killed, 24 injured in Abbottabad
Police official claims another person died in blast; DSP denies report
Policemen investigate scene left after the blast. PHOTOS: ONLINE
ABBOTABAD:
At least one person was killed while 24 others were injured when a room in a guesthouse caught fire after a gas leakage within the jurisdiction of Mirpur police station in Abbottabad on Thursday.
A police official told The Express Tribune, gas leaked in one of the rooms of Lalazar Guest House, situated opposite Ayub Medical College.
“When one of the guests attempted to turn on the gas heater at dawn, an explosion took place, killing a woman on the spot,” he said. “At least 24 people who were staying in adjoining rooms were injured.”
The deceased was identified as Sarozara Bibi, wife of Gul Rafiq, a resident of Battagram.
Police and rescue workers rushed the injured to Ayub Medical Complex.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, a hospital official said four of those injured, including a minor, were admitted to the facility’s burn unit.“The remaining 20 were administered first-aid and subsequently discharged,” he said.
Shadow of doubt
However, a police official, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune two people have died in the attack.
“A 20-year-old man was also killed and his body was burnt beyond recognition,” he said. “His identity could not be ascertained till the filing of this report.” However, DSP Amjad Hussain said only one woman has died in the first. Police registered a case of criminal negligence against the owner of the guesthouse.
Cause and effect
The firefighters were called in to control the fire from spreading to adjoining buildings. The bomb disposal unit also reached soon and confirmed that gas leakage had indeed caused the blast.
Insiders told The Express Tribune the blast caused the roof and walls of the room to cave in and also damaged eight rooms of the three-storey guesthouse.
The magnitude and intensity of the explosion also destroyed walls and shattered windowpanes of Halim Ghar, a hotel on the ground floor of the guesthouse, as well as neighbouring hotels and offices. A car parked outside the guesthouse was also partially damaged.
Wave of panic
“I ran outside my room because I mistook the gas explosion for a bomb blast,” Shahid, an employee of a neighbouring hotel, told The Express Tribune. “The noise was loud and piercing.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2016.
At least one person was killed while 24 others were injured when a room in a guesthouse caught fire after a gas leakage within the jurisdiction of Mirpur police station in Abbottabad on Thursday.
A police official told The Express Tribune, gas leaked in one of the rooms of Lalazar Guest House, situated opposite Ayub Medical College.
“When one of the guests attempted to turn on the gas heater at dawn, an explosion took place, killing a woman on the spot,” he said. “At least 24 people who were staying in adjoining rooms were injured.”
The deceased was identified as Sarozara Bibi, wife of Gul Rafiq, a resident of Battagram.
Police and rescue workers rushed the injured to Ayub Medical Complex.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, a hospital official said four of those injured, including a minor, were admitted to the facility’s burn unit.“The remaining 20 were administered first-aid and subsequently discharged,” he said.
Shadow of doubt
However, a police official, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune two people have died in the attack.
“A 20-year-old man was also killed and his body was burnt beyond recognition,” he said. “His identity could not be ascertained till the filing of this report.” However, DSP Amjad Hussain said only one woman has died in the first. Police registered a case of criminal negligence against the owner of the guesthouse.
Cause and effect
The firefighters were called in to control the fire from spreading to adjoining buildings. The bomb disposal unit also reached soon and confirmed that gas leakage had indeed caused the blast.
Insiders told The Express Tribune the blast caused the roof and walls of the room to cave in and also damaged eight rooms of the three-storey guesthouse.
The magnitude and intensity of the explosion also destroyed walls and shattered windowpanes of Halim Ghar, a hotel on the ground floor of the guesthouse, as well as neighbouring hotels and offices. A car parked outside the guesthouse was also partially damaged.
Wave of panic
“I ran outside my room because I mistook the gas explosion for a bomb blast,” Shahid, an employee of a neighbouring hotel, told The Express Tribune. “The noise was loud and piercing.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2016.