Six of family die in mysterious explosion

Police say blast occurred at a home-based junk shop

KOT ADDU:

Six people of a family were killed in a mysterious explosion at a junkyard, while three others were critically wounded who were sent to the hospital.

The deceased were identified as Bilal, 45, Hasina Bibi, 40, Saida Iqbal, 3, Iqbal, 32, Shanoo, 30, and one-and-a-half-year-old Farhan.

It was impossible right now to determine what caused the explosion. However, people are imagining different scenarios based on their experience of such incidents in the past. Of course, these scenarios are unofficial and unsubstantiated.

According to Express News, the incident was reported in the Daira Deen Panah area of Kot Addu.

A police spokesperson said that the blast took place in a home-built junk shop. He added that security agencies were at the spot to ascertain the nature of the blast.

Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed his grief over the unfortunate incident and ordered an inquiry into the matter.

He directed the officials to ensure that the injured were given the best medical care possible.

District Police Officer (DPO) Syed Hasnain Haider had formed an inquiry team and enlisted the help of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) as well as intelligence agencies to survey the site of the explosion.

Deputy Commissioner Salman Lodhi went to the hospital to inquire after the health of the injured. There are many junkyards in the densely populated area, and people in the past got burnt to death while extracting scrap from plastic products.

The people of the area claimed that the recent incident carries the marks of the incidents that took place in the past. A theory doing the rounds says that criminal elements hiding in the Lashari Jungle, a huge game sanctuary, might have had a role in the incident.

The Lashari Jungle has been used by the criminal elements from the Katcha area who come here to seek refuge. Of course, these elements bring along arms and ammunitions which they bury in the jungle.

People of the area surmise that the ill-fated family, while scavenging the jungle, might have bumped into something lethal which they brought to the junkyard inadvertently.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2023.