A fire broke out in the gas pipeline near Sabri Mosque in the Chakiwara are of Lyari early on Sunday after a powerful explosion, injuring nine people, including the moazzin of the mosque.
As per local residents, the new pipeline was laid at a shallow depth of one feet instead of standard three feet causing it to crack and leak, leading to the explosion.
Ambulances of a rescue service shifted the injured to the Burns Ward of Dr Ruth Pfau KM Civil Hospital.
According to a Karachi police spokesman, the injured have been identified as 20-year-old Ikramullah Sherin, 50-year-old Qari Akhtar Ahmed, 42-year-old Younis Yaqub, 35-year-old Asif Younis, 47-year-old Wazirzada Faqir, 17-year-old Omar Shah Alam, 55-year-old Israr Nawaz, 22-year-old Adnan Umarzada and 42-year-old Mufti Nasir Haji Khushal.
Injured Sabri Masjid Moazzin Qari Akhtar suffered 43% burn injuries and was in a critical condition. However, the condition of the other injured is out of danger, doctors at the Civil Hospital said.
According to the fire brigade spokesman, an explosion occurred due to a leak in the gas line, after which a fire broke out. Firefighters extinguished the blaze after an hour-long struggle. Residents of the area, Pakistan People's Party chairman candidate Guddu and others said the fire broke out at midnight.
After the fire broke out, the area residents tried to put out the fire with their help. All the concerned agencies were called, but the fire brigade vehicle arrived an hour later. Sui Southern Gas Company staff came late as well, the local residents claimed.
The fire was so intense that its flames reached the third floor of the Sabri Mosque. All the houses around the mosque were evacuated due to the intensity of the fire.
Local people said that the accident occurred due to the negligence of SSGC staff and engineers because a new line of gas line was laid in the area after digging up to one foot instead of three feet. This was also pointed out and complained to the concerned office of SSSGC however, they did not take steps to protect civilians.
Residents of the area say that for the first time, load shedding benefited them because there was no electricity in the area when the gas line exploded and caught fire. If there had been electricity in the area at that time, there would have been more loss of human lives. Residents of the area said that the Karachi administration was uncaring as no immediate arrangements were made to save lives and property. But as soon as there is a loss of life or property, they come to show their sympathy.
Residents of the area demanded the Sindh government take strict measures to ensure that the institutions function correctly so that the lives and property of the citizens could be protected.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2022.
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