Fire and smoke: Separate incidents leave five dead in Nowshera

Girl commits suicide; two killed over old enmity

NOWSHERA: Five people were reported dead in three separate incidents in Nowshera on Monday.

Dreams for a new life shattered when a family about to celebrate a wedding had to arrange for funerals. The incident took place in Khoshki, Mera Kalenjar.

A wedding ceremony was to take place in Shah Riaz’s house. Due to load-shedding, a family member switched on the generators. The smoke from the generators caused Shah Riaz and his five-year-old nephew Mashal to suffocate to death.

Riaz’s brother-in-law Nayab Akhtar and two of his cousins, Junaid and Saqib, both teenagers, fell unconscious due to the toxic fumes released from the generators. They were shifted to the nearby hospital where their condition is reported to be critical.

Girl commits suicide

In a separate incident, a 17-year-old girl reportedly committed suicide after she had a row with her mother.

The incident occurred at Armor Colony No3 in Nowshera.

The girl reportedly went to her room after a heated argument with her mother, locked it and shot herself. Further investigation in the case is under way.

Old enmity costs lives

In Akora Khattak, unidentified assailants opened fire on a man, his son and his daughter. The firing left the men dead and the girl injured.

According to a report filed by the Akora Khattak police, Riaz Muhammad was on his way to Mian Saad village with his son Farhan and his five-year-old daughter Nayab when suspects Shakoor and Wasim opened fire on them. The motive behind the attack was said to be an old enmity.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2016.