Cylinder blast: Two dead, 16 injured in accident

FIR registered against driver who has gone into hiding.

LODHRAN: Two people died and at least 16 were injured as a passenger van caught fire following a compressed natural gas cylinder blast in Kehror Pakka on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Noor Mai and Ramzan Mai. Noor Mai died on the spot while Ramzan Mai was taken to Bahawal Victoria Hospital near she passed away on Sunday.

The injured were take to Kehror Pakka tehsil headquarters (THQ) hospital where described to be in a critical condition and referred to BVH.

Eight of the injured were discharged at the THQ hospital after they were given first aid.

An FIR has been registered against the driver of the van, Rao Muhammad Amir, under Sections 322, 188 and 285 of the Pakistan Penal Code who has gone into hiding. Saddar station house officer Tahir Ijaz told The Express Tribune that police teams were raiding the area to arrest the suspect. He said progress was expected in tracking him down in a couple of days. Witnesses told the Tribune the van was parked at a roadside when the CNG cylinder exploded and the vehicle caught fire. It was travelling from Kehror Pakka to Nawaahi Waisi village.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2012.