Death toll in Lodhran shop fire reaches three

LODHRAN:

Two more persons succumbed to their injuries after a fire broke out in Lodhran earlier this week, taking the death toll to three.

Reportedly, the shopkeeper Abdul Rashid died on October 19 while his niece and nephew on October 21.

The fire broke at Chak No 342WB near Dunyapur railway station in Lodhran. Abdul Rashid’s retail store had vegetables and petrol for sale along with groceries. There was a sudden fire in the petrol can. Abdul Rashid, his niece Kishwar Bibi and nephew Tanveer were seriously injured in the fire.

The injured were admitted to Multan Nishtar Hospital in critical condition while the cause of the fire could not be ascertained. Sources said the department of civil defence allegedly started the work of placing petrol in illegal petrol units and drums in various places. Sources added Rs3,000-Rs5,000 were allegedly collected from illegal agencies and Rs10,000 from petrol pumps.

Once a new illegal petrol unit machine was installed, action was taken against it and then the department settled the matter.

ADCG Ashraf Saleh said, “A major operation is underway against illegal petrol agencies in all three tehsils. 152 illegal petrol agencies are sealed and 131 cases were registered.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2021.