Eight injured in cylinder blast

Fire erupted after explosion at restaurant

LAHORE:

At least eight people were injured after a cylinder exploded with a huge blast in a restaurant near Thokar Niaz Baig on Multan Road on Wednesday.

Reportedly, a local small hotel was situated near the main gate of a private housing society. Some customers were sitting inside the restaurant. Suddenly, a cylinder exploded with a huge blast. The victims sitting inside were hit by pieces of cylinder shreds and other objects inside the hotel and suffered injuries.

The blast was followed by fire. The nearby people rushed outside to save their life. The blast sent powerful shockwaves in the surroundings and the people rushed to the site. They also called the police and the rescue service. The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

As per data compiled by Rescue 1122, at least 4,000 cases of fire were reported last year. The data analysis also showed that in summer the fire cases due to short-circuit and electricity (energy) related increased following increase in demand of power supply and poor electric wiring etc.

In winter, the fire cases due to cylinders and heaters multiplied.

In most of cases, human error as well poor infrastructure were pointed out as the prime causes.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2022.