BDS initial report says explosion caused by a build-up of gas in the nullah; 12 people injured
KARACHI
At least 16 people were killed and more than a dozen others injured on Saturday in a blast that took place at Paracha Chowk in the city’s Shershah neighbourhood.
PTI MNA Alamgir Khan’s father is among those to have died in the explosion, PTI-Karachi President MPA Khurram Sher Zaman confirmed, as fears of increasing casualties remain with the search and rescue operation underway.
Earlier, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Accident Emergency and Trauma Centre head Dr Sabir Memon confirmed that the hospital had received 14 bodies.
Meanwhile, DIG South Sharjeel Kharal said 10 injured people have been discharged after necessary medical treatment, while six remain under observation, including two who are on the ventilator.
Police say gas caused blast, SSGC differs
A spokesperson for the Karachi Police, quoting the bomb disposal unit’s report, said the blast took place in a gas pipeline running through a nullah located in the area, causing immense damage to the building of a private bank that was constructed atop it.
The spokesperson noted that so far, there was no lead suggesting that the blast might be linked to terrorism.
Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), in a statement, said that its team had confirmed that there was “no SSGC gas pipeline” in the area. “The gas pipelines installed in the area are safe and they have not incurred any damage.”
Referring to the BDU’s report, the SSGC said that it had declared a blast in the sewerage line as the reason for the explosion.
“It is important to note that neither were flames visible nor was there any smell of natural gas in the area — which is a clear indication that the blast is not linked to any of SSGC’s pipelines,” it added.
