Death toll from factory blast rises to 10

Authorities suspect explosion was caused by gas leak

The number of casualties caused by the blast, earlier believed to have been a result of a boiler exploding, at an ice factory in New Karachi Industrial Area on Tuesday has risen to 10. As the clearing operation resumed on Wednesday, another body was recovered from under the rubble.

The deceased was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities, where he was identified as 30-year-old Saleem, who hailed from Jalalpur.

Later, New Karachi Industrial Area SHO Inspector Younus Khattak confirmed the death of another blast victim, Muhammad Yousuf, who died during treatment at Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital.

‘Gas leak likely caused blast’

While earlier the blast was ascribed to a boiler exploding at the factory, the North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry’s disaster management chief Muhammad Farooq ruled out this possibility on Wednesday.

According to him, there was no boiler at the factory, adding that the explosion could have been caused by a compressor, but all of them were found intact.

Farooq suspects that the explosion was caused by ammonia gas leakage since the gas is used in ice factories.

He said that the factory owner was out of the country and would be reaching Karachi at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Central Municipal Commissioner Sameera Hussain told media persons that ammonia gas was present in the air at the site of the blast.

“However, the cause of the explosion cannot be ascertained yet and relevant authorities are working to determine the cause,” she said.

New Karachi SP Azhar Mughal, too, said the blast was suspected to have been caused by a gas leak.

However, he said a bomb disposal squad and other officials were inspecting the site of the blast, and the cause could only be determined after they released their findings. “We will register a case for the incident following that,” he said.

The police have formed teams, also comprising officials from the relevant zonal bomb disposal squad, that have been inspecting the site and collecting evidence.

According to bomb disposal squad officials, they will only be able to make a conclusive report after all the debris was cleared from the site.

The officials said evidence and soil samples collected from the site would be sent for forensic analysis to the laboratory at the University of Karachi.

Earlier on Tuesday, eight bodies were pulled out from under the debris following the explosion and at least 35 people were reported injured. Multiple workshops and vehicles in the vicinity of the ice factory were also damaged.

A rescue and search operation was commenced soon after and continued till late on Tuesday night.

Bodies recovered on the first day of the operation were identified as Mubashir, Mohsin, Fazal Karim, Naeem, Sunny, Muhammad Ramzan and Abdul Waheed, who was identified through Citizens-Police Liaison Committee’s Shanakht programme. One of the bodies found on Tuesday, though, is yet to be identified, said SHO Khattak.

Following the recovery of another body and another victim succumbing to his injuries on Wednesday, the number of casualties resulting out of the explosion has climbed to 10.

Calls for compensation

Meanwhile, Sindh Trade and Industries Minister Jam Ikramullah Dharejo visited the site of the explosion and expressed grief over the incident.

He said investigations were underway and action would be taken against elements whose negligence lead to the blast.

“We will also request the Sindh chief minister to pay compensation to the affected families,” he added.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan, who also visited the site, demanded compensation for the affected families as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2020.