Ojhri Camp tragedy remains shrouded in mystery

Missile depot explosion killed 103, injured over 1,500; unanswered questions linger

RAWALPINDI:

Thirty-eight years ago, on April 10, 1988, at 9:50am, life in Rawalpindi and Islamabad was proceeding normally when catastrophe struck. Public transport was running, educational institutions were in session, and shopkeepers were opening businesses when the twin cities were shaken by massive explosions.

The missile depot at Ojhri Camp, located in a military area between the two cities, exploded, sending rockets and missiles flying in all directions. Fires in the ammunition depot triggered continuous blasts, with missiles landing across populated areas, spreading destruction.

People ran for cover as panic spread. Some believed it was an Indian attack, others suspected Israel. Vehicles on roads were struck, while missiles flew overhead before crashing to the ground. Communication systems, including telephone, electricity, and gas, collapsed. Chaklala International Airport was shut down and flights suspended.

Rockets even landed near the Presidency and Parliament House. Government and private offices, along with educational institutions, were immediately closed. Nearby residential areas, including Gulshan Dadan Khan, were reduced to rubble.

Hospitals overflowed with injured victims suffering severe burns and dismemberment. Military units cordoned off the area as rescue operations intensified. Thick smoke and dust clouds engulfed the sky, while continuous explosions created deafening noise.

Amid chaos, women, children, and elderly people fled barefoot in panic. For nearly two hours, explosions continued. Many school and college girls reportedly went missing that day.

Officially, 103 people were killed and around 1,500 injured, though independent sources suggested higher figures. Ambulances echoed across the city, and burials continued for days. Unexploded missiles were found for weeks afterward, and even today, remnants occasionally emerge during excavation along Nullah Lai.

Former MNA Khawaja Khakan Abbasi also lost his life after being hit by a missile. At the time, Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo and President Zia-ul-Haq were abroad but returned immediately.

An inquiry committee led by Lt Gen Imranullah was formed, along with another comprising five ministers, but the findings have never been fully disclosed. Even after 38 years, the tragedy remains unresolved.