Further casualties are feared, with several people apparently trapped under the rubble of the collapsed building.
In an unfortunate incident, at least four people were killed and five others injured when a powerful explosion ripped through an illegal fireworks warehouse near Leghari Goth in Darya Bachao Bund in Hyderabad.
Authorities fear the death toll could rise as the factory building has completely collapsed, leaving several people potentially trapped under the rubble.
The explosion took place around 4 p.m. in a house-turned-warehouse located in the middle of agricultural fields near UC-99, opposite Latifabad No. 10. The impact was so intense that its echo was heard in Kohsar and several neighborhoods of Latifabad. The structure was flattened instantly, igniting a massive fire and sending debris, including human body parts, into a wide radius.
Residents were the first to arrive at the scene, where they discovered that the collapsed building was being used as an illegal fireworks manufacturing and storage unit. Residents said seven to eight people usually worked at the facility and firecrackers continued to go off long after the explosion.
Rescue teams from Edhi Foundation and Rescue 1122 arrived at the scene soon after the explosion. According to Miraj Qureshi, head of the Edhi Center, four bodies were removed from the rubble, while five injured people were transferred to hospital. Four of them were later transferred to Burns Ward due to serious injuries.
Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad Zain-ul-Abideen, Deputy Commissioner Saud Baloch and other officials also arrived at the site and started supervising the rescue operations. Authorities evacuated the large crowd gathered at the scene to facilitate debris removal.
UC President Imran Bashir said Express News that the warehouse was frequently occupied by workers from nearby Kolhi Goth. He confirmed that four bodies had been found so far. Eyewitnesses said they often saw four workers – Mushtaq, Waqas, Kashif and Anas – inside the facility, although it is unclear how many of them were present at the time of the explosion.
Residents noted that although the blast site was far from populated areas, a much bigger tragedy could have occurred if the illegal factory had been operating in a residential locality.
Speaking to the media, Deputy Commissioner Zain-ul-Abideen said authorities were searching for the owner who set up the illegal storage of fireworks on government land. “Our first priority is to complete the rescue operation. Once the debris is cleared, we will assess whether there are other victims,” he added.
The DC further said that after consulting the SSP Hyderabad, a search operation would be launched at different locations to identify how the fireworks material was being supplied and stored illegally. He specified that the OGRA and its technical teams would also be consulted during the investigation. He urged the public to immediately report any place in their area where fireworks or explosive materials are illegally possessed.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has asked the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Hyderabad for a detailed report on the incident. He asked authorities to ensure that the injured received the best possible medical treatment and promised to take strict action against those responsible.
Furthermore, Governor Kamran Tessori expressed sadness over the tragedy and asked relevant departments to submit a comprehensive report. He also assured that those responsible would be held accountable.
