At least 5 dead, 30 injured as explosion rips through building in Karachi

Security forces cordoned off the area, blast took place in a residential building in Gulshan-e-Iqbal

KARACHI:

At least five people were killed and 30 others were injured on Tuesday in an explosion near Maskan Chowrangi – a locality in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of Karachi.

Security forces cordoned off the area and shifted the casualties to a local hospital. Seven of the injured are said to be in critical condition.

According to rescue officials, the blast took place in a four-storey residential building and was heard in multiple areas of the port city. Cause of the explosion is unknown and security officials are investigating.

Officials added that two floors of the building have been severely damaged and fear casualties may increase as they sift through the rubble.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took notice of the explosion and sought a detailed report of the incident from Karachi commissioner. The chief minister has also directed authorities to provide immediate medical aid to the injured.

He also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life, said a spokesperson.

 

Karachi Administrator Iftikhar Shallwani, while speaking to the media said that the nature of the blast could only be determined after an inquiry and added that the building will have to be demolished to the damage.

Provincial Education Minister Saeed Ghani also visited the site of the incident and said the cause of the blast will be determined through an investigation.

 

Security and rescue officials stand amid the damaged structure. Photo: AFP

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also expressed grief over the loss of lives, said a statement from the party.

پی پی پی چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا کراچی میں دھماکے کے نتیجے میں قیمتی جانوں کے ضیاع پر افسوس کا اظہار

بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے دھماکے کی نوعیت اور صورتحال کے متعلق تفصیلات لیں@BBhuttoZardari

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) October 21, 2020

PTI’s Ali Zaidi offered "prayers and sympathies" to the victims of the blast and called on the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident.

Prayers & sympathies go out to the victims of the blast near Maskan Chowrangi.
Urge the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of this tragedy.

— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) October 21, 2020

The explosion comes a day after a bomb blast in Karachi’s Shireen Jinnah Colony injured six people. The explosive device was fitted in a motorcycle parked outside a tyre shop near the bus terminal.

CTD In-charge Raja Umar Khattab had said that the bomb weighed around one kilogramme and was fitted in the seat of the vehicle. It was locally made and contained ball bearings.

Two pedestrians and four passengers in a bus parked at the terminal were severely injured because of the ball bearings in the bomb.