At least six people died and two others were wounded on Thursday in an explosion inside a house in the Daira Din Panah area of Punjab’s Kot Addu district, the police said.
Muzaffargarh District Police Officer (DPO) Syed Hasnain Haider, while confirming the incident, told Dawn.com that all of the deceased individuals belonged to the same family, which used to deal in selling junk.
He added that the family was sorting out junk materials when suddenly an explosion occurred.
A Rescue 1122 spokesperson said the deceased included two women, two men and two children — one of whom was two years old. The wounded persons and bodies have been moved to the District Headquarters Hospital Kot Addu.
DPO Haider further said that an investigation into the explosion was underway to determine its nature.
Separately, Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed condolences over the loss of lives and sought a report on the incident from Punjab Inspector General Dr Usman Anwar.
Later in the day, DPO Haider and Muzaffargarh District Commissioner (DC) Salman Khan Lodhi reached the site of the explosion for inspection.
DPO Haider said, “We inspected the site of the explosion and met the bereaved family. Investigation into the explosion is being carried out from every angle.”
He promised to stand with the families and provide “every possible facility” was being provided to the wounded.
The official further said that the Punjab Forensic Science Agency and the Crime Scene Unit will inspect the location as well and prepare a final report on the incident.
The DPO and the DC also visited the wounded persons at the hospital and inquired about their health.
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