Minor girl killed in cylinder blast

A fire broke out in a house on Jhumra road due to a gas cylinder explosion, killing a young girl and injuring eight other people, including another girl and two women.

Eight Rescue 1122 vehicles rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control. However, no officer from the district administration was present at the scene, which sparked a protest by the local people. Millat Town Police reached the spot and handed over the body of the girl to her relatives after medico-legal process.

According to the details, the fire erupted in a house on 202 RB Gutti Bhaiwala Road due to a gas leak, causing a loud explosion and the roofs of two houses to collapse. The flames, growing massive in size, engulfed belongings in the house and burned the occupants.

Read: 9 killed in Multan as building collapses after cylinder explosion

50-year-old Saima Bibi, 28-year-old Raheela, 60-year-old Fazal Muhammad and 6-year-old Abbas Ali were injured in the fire. Similarly, 33-year-old Asad, 7-year-old Firdous Bibi, 2-year-old Usman and 35-year-old Qaisar were trapped under the debris of the collapsed roofs and injured. Once evacuated, they were shifted to hospital for medical assistance.

Firdous Bibi succumbed to her injuries and died in the hospital and Millat Town Police handed the body of the deceased girl over to her relatives. Eight vehicles of Rescue 1122 arrived at the spot and evacuated the injured out from under the debris and shifted them to the Allied Hospital.

According to the police, an explosion occurred due to a gas cylinder in a four-marla house, which engulfed the adjacent house and caused its roof to cave in. After receiving the information, Millat Town Police reached the spot and participated in the rescue operations along with Rescue 1122.

Despite receiving information about the incident, no officer from the district administration was present at the scene, outraging local residents.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2024.