Death toll from boiler explosion rises to six

Deceased belonged to Chiniot, Khanewal, Nawan area of provincial capital and Sindh

FAISALABAD: The death toll from a boiler explosion at an oil refinery in Thikriwala area has risen to six, as of Tuesday. After identifying the victims, the bodies were handed over to their families. Meanwhile, five other victims, including the owner, were being treated at a hospital.

Police have registered a case against the owner under various provisions and handed over the bodies of the burnt victims to their relatives after taking necessary action. The deceased belonged to Chiniot, Khanewal, Nawan area of Lahore and Sindh province. A fire broke out due to a boiler explosion during oil refining on Monday.

Details obtained by The Express Tribune revealed that Wasim along with his partner Azam Chishti, had set up a black oil refinery depot in Chak No 70GB, Mansooran area of Thikriwala police station, six years ago, with the connivance of employees and officers of various departments.

The flames completely engulfed the oil drums and depots and about 30 employees working in the depot were stuck.

The incident resulted in some of the workers escaping the scene while the rest were engulfed in the fire which resulted in the death of six labourers. The deceased included 21-year-old Shahadat, a resident of Chiniot, Raja Naeem son of Afzal, resident of Dhok Mona, Jhelum, Faryad, son of Mazhar Hussain, resident of Chak No 251GB, Mochiwala, Jhang, Zahid, son of Sharif and resident of Sardarpur, Kabirwala tehsil, Khanewal district, Hazara Khan, son of Imam and resident of DG Khairpur and Rashid, son of Latif and resident of DG Khairpur.

In addition to this, Azam, son of Rafiq and resident of Islampur, Muhammad Waseem, son of Haji Inayat and resident of Sitara Sapna City, Sarfraz, son of Mushtaq and resident of Chak No 224GB, Sheikh Kamran, son of Raheeb and resident of Kot DG Khairpur, Sindh, Naeem, son of Mazhar, sustained burn injuries.

Rescue 1122 personnel shifted the victims to Allied Hospital after they received on the spot medical treatment. The fire destroyed the six-acre oil depot and its equipment.

The roofs of the rooms also collapsed. Thikriwala police registered a case against Malik Wasim and his partner Chishti, under Section 322TP on the statement of security constable Muhammad Kamran Ishaq, and started searching for them.

Saddar DSP Jamshed Iqbal Chishti said the scope of the investigation had been widened in which employees of various departments will also be interrogated to ascertain how they helped the two oil depot owners in this illegal move.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2020.