Bodies were also found in the rubble of the building. PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
A devastating gas explosion destroyed a three-story residential building in Karachi’s Gul-e-Rana Colony in Soldiers’ Bazaar on Thursday morning, killing 16 people, including women and children, and injuring 14 others, rescue officials and witnesses said.
The explosion occurred around 4 a.m. in Sehri, near a private school, and shook nearby buildings. According to Dr Abid, Operations Director of Rescue 1122, the explosion was probably caused by a gas leak or a faulty gas appliance.
The collapsed building, built over an area of approximately 25 to 30 meters, housed several families on its floors. Most of the victims were on the ground and first floors, trapped under debris after the building collapsed.
The settlement’s narrow lanes prevented heavy machinery from entering, forcing rescuers to rely on traditional methods, including knives, grinders and human detectors, to locate survivors, a Rescue 1122 official said.
Nasrullah Abbasi, deputy commissioner of Karachi East district, supervised the rescue operation. “All the missing people reported by the families have been found,” he told reporters. He confirmed that one injured person was treated and released after receiving immediate medical attention.
Local residents gathered immediately after the explosion to help with relief efforts before official teams arrived. 1122 rescue, police and volunteers launched a large-scale operation that lasted more than eight hours, successfully extracting the dead and injured.
“The narrow streets of the neighborhood made the operation extremely difficult,” said Dr. Abid. “We used modern equipment to find the individuals trapped under the debris and transferred them to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment.”
Abid Farooq, head of the bomb disposal squad, added that the explosion was caused by a gas leak and not a cylinder. “The kitchen equipment was faulty and plastic pipes and joints contributed to the gas leaks. Gas suction machines were installed and the area experienced a low supply for several days. Sudden gas pressure may have triggered the explosion.”
Among those killed were: Nargis, 2, daughter of Qambar; Mohammad Riaz, 60, son of Mohammad Usman; Nazia, 10 years old, daughter of Wakiya; Benazir, 15 years old, daughter of Wakiya; Qambar Ali, 27, son of Baloch Khan; Yasmin, 21 years old, wife of Qambar Ali; Sonu, 6 years old, daughter of Jabbar; Wasim, 5 years old, son of Nadeem; Nadeem, 28, son of Urs; Sajjad, 12 years old, son of Shahid; Abbas, 18 years old, son of Shahid; Zainunnisa, 35, wife of Shahid; Aqsa, 15 years old, daughter of Anwar Ali; Afshan, 14 years old; Insha, 19 years old; and Rukhsar, 18 years old.
The injured included: Mohammad Shahid, 60, son of Ghulam Rasool; Wakiya, 50, son of Chhota; Bilal, 14 years old, son of Wakiya; Padhra, 10 years old, daughter of Wakiya; Adnan, 6 years old, son of Wakiya; Riaz, 7 years old, son of Wakiya; Tasleem, 25 years old, daughter of Wakiya; Zainuddin, 6 years old, son of Kamran; Kamran, 40 years old, son of Nazar Mohammad; Sanaahan, 12 years old, son of Wakiya; Kausar, 13, daughter of Anwar Ali; Amina, 55 years old, wife of Wakiya; Junaid, 18 years old, son of Mohammad Anwar; and one additional person sent home after treatment.
Police arrested the owner of the building for questioning, while DIG East Farukh Lanjar visited the site to review the rescue efforts. Authorities confirmed the building was illegal and nearby structures had cracks, leading to evacuations.
Further inspections and legal action will follow to ensure accountability, officials said. Residents and authorities continue to assist in rescue and recovery operations while investigations continue to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
