Gas leak at pizza shop sparks chaos

Four injured, three shops damaged, 10 cars crushed under debris

KARACHI:

A massive explosion rocked a residential apartment complex near Gulshan Iqbal Maskan Chowrangi, caused by a gas leak in a pizza shop. The blast's thunderous noise reverberated across the area, leaving destruction in its wake. Four individuals, including a motorcyclist passing by, sustained injuries in the incident. The explosion destroyed three businesses, including the pizza shop, while others suffered partial damage.

Debris from the building rained down on over 10 parked vehicles in the apartment's parking lot, causing extensive damage to the cars and structural damage within the residential building. The bomb disposal squad's report indicated that a build-up of gas pressure in the pizza shop, combined with fluctuating electrical wires, triggered the explosion.

Following the incident, police detained two pizza shop owners and an employee for questioning. Residents recounted a history of four separate explosions within the residential apartment complex, with a particularly devastating incident three years ago resulting in five fatalities, the destruction of six flats, and extensive damage to numerous shops.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2023.