10 injured in Hyd LPG blast as illegal fuel trade continues unchecked

Second explosion in two days exposes enforcement failures

HYDERABAD:

In yet another reminder of the officials' failure to enforce safety regulations, a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder explosion ripped through a shop in Hyderabad late Monday night, injuring at least 10 people and highlighting the persistent risks posed by unchecked illegal practices.

The incident took place at an LPG shop located in Latifabad Unit 11. It was the second such occurrence in the second largest urban centre of Sindh within two days, reviving fears in a city still scarred by a devastating blast that claimed 27 lives two years ago.

Eyewitness Fareed Khan, a 43-year-old rickshaw driver, said he was standing outside the shop where around 20 to 25 cylinders had been lined up for refilling when the explosion occurred. "I saw the salesperson releasing pressure from a refilling valve when suddenly there was a deafening blast," he recounted.

Rescue 1122 initially re. The injured sustained burns ranging from 6% to 17%, with at least four suffering facial burns. Three of the victims were teenagers. Two critically injured men - 28-year-old Zabiullah Tur Khan and 25-year-old Amjad Shamsuddin - were admitted for treatment.

According to an official statement, DC Memon directed strict action against unlawful LPG storage and sales in densely populated areas, warning that cases would be registered against violators.

SSP Chachar, meanwhile, pledged "zero tolerance" for illegal LPG activities, vowing daily enforcement operations and strict legal action against serious violations.

However, residents remain skeptical, citing repeated incidents and what they describe as a pattern of temporary crackdowns followed by a return to business as usual.

The May 30, 2024 explosion in Paretabad, which killed 27 people - many of them children studying at a seminary - remains one of the deadliest such incidents in the city's history. Following that tragedy, the district administration had sealed numerous LPG outlets and introduced SOPs, including mandatory licensing by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and strict compliance with safety measures.

Despite these measures, illegal practices soon resurfaced. Decanting resumed, and LPG continued to be sold openly for use in rickshaws, cars, and passenger vans.

On June 16, 2025, a 10-year-old boy, Umer Hussain, died after suffering critical burns in an LPG shop explosion in the Islamabad Chowk area. In another incident on December 9, 2025, a passenger van caught fire during refuelling at a CNG station, killing Abdul Majeed Abbassi, a HESCO employee, and his 12-year-old son.

Other mishaps include a similar fire on November 24, 2025, on Hyderabad Bypass, and a major blaze at a CNG station on January 30 this year, when a container carrying LNG cylinders caught fire, destroying the facility and killing an employee. Eight people were also killed in an explosion at an illegally operating fireworks factory on November 15, 2025.