Gas cylinder blast triggers fire

Fire brigade officials reveals that shops contained empty fruit boxes, various goods

KARACHI:

A fire broke out following the explosion of a gas cylinder on a pushcart near Jinnah Square in Malir, engulfing two nearby shops on Thursday.

The fire brigade personnel responded to the distress call on time and put out the blaze, preventing any significant damage or casualties.

As per details, the fire spontaneously broke out in shops adjacent to House No D34 near Jinnah Square, quickly spreading to nearby shops.

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As soon as the incident was reported, police and rescue agencies reached the scene and called in the fire brigade.

Two fire brigade vehicles reached and brought the fire under control within 45 minutes, saving the adjacent house from any damage. Flames, however, destroyed the fruit boxes, peanuts, and other goods.

Fire brigade officials revealed that the shops contained empty fruit boxes and various goods.

A vendor's cart, used for selling nuts, was stationed in one of the shops.

The vendor had left a huge pan with hot sand on the cylinder installed on the cart.

The intense heat caused the cylinder to explode with a loud blast, triggering the fire.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2023.