7 injured in house fire sparked by gas leakage

Neighbours say gas leaking from pipes in many homes and streets

KARACHI:

A fire broke out at a house in Orangi Town due to the leakage of gas on the night between Sunday and Monday. As a result, a man, his wife, and five children suffered burn injuries.

A fire brigade vehicle reached the spot and controlled the fire.

On hearing the explosion, Cheepa volunteers also reached the spot, but by that time, flames had engulfed the entire house, and the walls and roof of the house collapsed due to the intense heat.

Cheepa volunteers, with the help of residents, took seven people out of the burning house and rushed them to Burns Ward of Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital.

The head of the house, 50-year-old Riaz, son of Amiruddin, and his three sons, 26-year-old Ali Raza, 16-year-old Anas Raza and 14-year-old Owais Raza, are among the injured. Riaz's wife, Husan Ara, 50, and two daughters, Aliza, 22, and Areba, 14, are out of danger.

According to fire brigade officials, the fire was reported late, but a fire brigade vehicle reached the spot as soon as the information was received. However, the residents managed to control the fire on their own.

This was the third fire incident in this neighbourhood, according to the locals, who claimed that gas had been leaking from every house and street for the last three years.

"We did go to the Sui gas office to register complaints", they said, "But no one paid heed to our complaints."

Riaz's house caught fire when his wife lit a match to heat curry for her son at around 2 am when a loud explosion occurred, spreading fire in the entire house.

The residents of the area have appealed to all the high authorities, including the Governor of Sindh and the Chief Minister of Sindh, to compel the Sui Southern Gas Company to repair or replace the gas lines passing through their area and to provide financial support to Riaz.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2022.