Ghulam Shabbir Sherwani, a resident of Rohri, died of burns at Civil Hospital Karachi on Tuesday at midnight. Ghulam Shabbir, along with 12 other family members, was burnt when a fire broke out in their house last week.
Sukkur Inspector Tahir told The Express Tribune that the fire broke out because of gas in the house and there was no evidence of explosives. As there is no burns ward in the Sukkur district, the injured were provided with first aid and sent to Karachi.
His younger son, Mohammad Rehan Sherwani, was not in the house at the time of incident. He confirmed his father’s death to The Express Tribune and said that due to the severity of its burns the body cannot be taken to Rohri and the burial will take place in Karachi.
Mohammad Rehan said that the condition of his mother, Abida, and nieces, Muneeba, 4, and Habiba, 3, is very critical because the doctors told him that they are more than 70 % burnt.
Mohammad Rehan said that the main gas pipeline behind his house had been leaking for many days. His father had complained to the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) authorities and they sent their staff to investigate the complaint. SSGC told Ghulam Shabbir that the pipeline behind the house was perfectly fine, but the main pipeline was leaking and would be replaced soon.
Last Sunday, at about 11am, Ghulam’s wife was ironing her clothes when the plug sparked. Ghulam’s wife tried to adjust the plug, this caused a spark which led to a huge explosion and a fireball which burnt everyone in the house. The explosion was so intense that the doors and windows of their house blew away and the roof and walls were partially damaged. The police immediately rushed to the scene and called the bomb disposal squad to thoroughly check the house.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 30th, 2011.
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