Hyderabad fireworks factory blaze death toll climbs to seven

In a city of ticking time bombs, thanks to free-for-all LPG cylinders and fireworks, an explosion in an illegally operating fireworks factory on Saturday claimed seven lives and injured several others.

The deafening bang, heard kilometers away, razed the ground-floor structure in goth Major Baqar in Latifabad unit 10, in which the factory, reportedly owned by Asad Khan, was operating. The death toll, initially reported at three, surged to seven within a couple of hours. The spokesman of Liaquat University Hospital confirmed receiving four dead bodies, including three burnt beyond recognition.

The injured include individuals who worked at the factory. Of them, 45-year-old Sheraz Sanaullah sustained 100% burns, 30-year-old Waqas Arshad sustained 95% burns, and 40-year-old Naeem Yousuf sustained 90%. Three other patients, 26-year-old Anas Akram who sustained 40% burns, 30-year-old Kashif Arshad with 35% and Mushtaq Sadiq with 12%, were shifted for treatment at the LUH's burns ward. One wounded patient, Musarat Irshad, was discharged after treatment.

Dilbar Halepoto, spokesman of Rescue 1122, informed that they received information about a blast at around 4pm. The structure in question, surrounded by an agricultural field, was located close to the Indus River's embankment.

Halepoto recalled that smoke billowed to far away corners of the locality and the mushroom cloud in the sky could be seen from afar. Thousands of people, including cops, rescue staff and government officials reached the site for the post-incident rescue and investigation.

Volunteers joined hands with the rescue workers, equipped with tools and machinery to cut the rubble and remove debris, allowing the removal of the victims.

A video shared by Rescue 1122 showed a dead body trapped under the debris with the man's broken legs being his only visible limbs. That body, after it was dug up, bore signs of being roasted alive. Both of the deceased man's arms appeared stiffened and lifted upwards as if the last struggle of his life was to prevent himself from being crushed under the debris. His identity remained unknown.

"Khan is absconding," Hyderabad SSP Adeel Chandio said. He added that the factory was "illegal and was secretly set up near the river levee."

The SSP said that police will wait for families of the deceased, before lodging the case on the state's complaint. He stated that police have started an investigation to determine how Khan secured a license in 2020, but did not reveal why police took no action against a facility operating with an expired license.

Securing license

On November 12, 2019, Khan acquired an agricultural land measuring 60 x 73 square yards, on rent, in Major Baqar Goth, from Muhammad Jameel. The land was acquired with Khan to pay Rs2,000 monthly rent.

Three days later, he submitted an application to DC Hyderabad for issuance of a license for manufacture, sale and purchase of "minor flower and colourful items." The DC office wrote to the SSP office to provide the applicant's character report. "... there is nothing against him on the record," reads the SSP's reply dated December 9, 2019. "He is a law abiding and peaceful citizen."

The Sindh Home Department on March 13, 2020, issued a no-objection certification for Khan's company, M/S Pakistan Fireworks, with its address at plot number 131, Al-Rahim City, Latifabad. The NOC was issued under the Explosives Gazette, 2010.

Six days later, Khan eventually secured a license, with one-year expiry, from the office of DC Hyderabad to "manufacture, possess and sell fireworks."

However, the license was not issued for the address where the factory was actually functioning. Rather, the license granting letter highlighted, in bold, the facility's address as plot number 131, Al-Rahim City.

SSP Hyderabad also confirmed the fact that the factory did not exist on the approved address. The letter had also put a cap on possessing not more than 25 pounds of explosives.

On May 30, 2024, a blast occurred in a shop selling LPG, killing 27 people including 20 children in the Pareetabad area.

A similar explosion revisited Hyderabad on April 29 this year when a fire swept through a huge junkyard, a parking facility, a cottage industry, and a cattle pen, causing explosions in multiple LPG cylinders. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

Despite such incidents, LPG refilling shops along with those selling fireworks continue to operate with impunity in Hyderabad.

Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner Zainul Abideen has issued a notification ordering action against illegal fireworks warehouses. He has also formed committees to identify and shut down warehouses, factories, and LPG filling points operating in violation of the law.

The DC has instructed officials to submit weekly reports and hold progress meetings, while citizens have been urged to report suspicious activities or illegal businesses at 022-9200244, as per the notification.