Six burn in two accidents

Four members of a Hindu family injured in gas-cylinder blast.

FAISALABAD: Four people were burnt in a gas cylinder blast at a house in Chak No103, Bahawalpur, on Sunday. 

Those injured were identified as 45-year-old Bhagwan Das, 42-year-old Dharmi Mai, 30-year-old Mariam Mai and four-year-old Bindya.

They are under treatment for the burn injuries at Shaikh Zayed Hospital in Rahim Yar Khan.

Doctors at the hospital told The Express Tribune that more than 90 per cent of Bahgwan Das’s body had burnt and that his condition was critical.

The other three had suffered burns on 40 to 50 per cent of their bodies.

Mariam Mai said she was cooking food in the kitchen when the incident took place. “I was occupied with work and didn’t realise gas was leaking from the cylinder,” she said. She said before she could rush to turn off the gas, the cylinder caught fire and exploded.

The family was rushed to the hospital by their neighbour, Shakeel, who said he and other members of his family gathered at the spot hearing the sound of the explosion.

In another incident, two workers at a sugar mill in Rahim Yar Khan, Shahbaz Ahmed and Mohammad Shakeel, were burnt in a fire at the boiler.

Rescue officials said the fire was caused due to an electric short circuit.

They were taken to Shaikh Zayed Hospital where doctors described their condition as critical.

24-year-old Muhammad Shahbaz, a resident of Khan Bela, died after he was run over by a speeding mini bus. The driver managed to escape from the scene.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2011.