Tragedy strikes: Stove explosion kills one, injures four

Incendiary material placed by ‘miscreants’ blamed.

MANSEHRA:

A woman was killed and four others including three children were injured when an explosive material placed in a fire pot exploded in Shohal Darra, some 25 kilometres  from Balakot, on Thursday evening.

The police and eyewitnesses said the family was preparing dinner and one of the women lit the firewood in the indigenous stove when it exploded killing her and injuring four others. It is believed that miscreants placed the incendiary material in the fireplace intending for it to explode when a fire was lit. The head of the household was quick to shoot down any allegations of enmity within the village. Police believe the material may have been dropped from the chimney. Part of the room was also destroyed in the explosion.

Rescue workers took the deceased and injured to a Balakot hospital from where they were shifted to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, Mansehra.

The deceased was identified as Pari Jan, while Nasreen Bibi, Aksa Bibi, Muhammad Awais and Misbah Bibi are still in critical condition.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2011.