GUJRAT: Six people were killed and 10 injured on Sunday after a hotel building collapsed due to a gas cylinder blast along the G.T. Road near Jhelum, rescue officials confirmed.

Four people were found dead under the debris of the four-storey building, and two succumbed to injuries while being treated at a hospital, according to Jhelum chief health officer Dr Naeem Janjua.

Rescue officials said the explosion took place at around 10am.

The health officer added one of the injured died after reaching the Jhelum DHQ hospital while one died in the ambulance near Sohawa on the way to the Rawalpindi DHQ.

Hotel building collapses due to the blast

The deceased have been identified as Dilwar from Kashmore, Sindh; Adnan from Kharian; Tanveer, Muhammad Afzal Rathian, Yasir Qadeer and Muneer Hussain from Jhelum.

One critically injured man, identified as Zaryab from Sohawa, has been referred to Rawalpindi’s Holy Family hospital whereas two of the injured were discharged from the hospital after first aid.

Mr Janjua said currently seven injured persons were being treated at Jhelum DHQ hospital.

Geo News reported around 9pm that the operation was still going on to find any trapped persons. DPO Jehlum told Geo News there was a possibility of one dead body under the rubble.

Jhelum Deputy Commissioner Samiullah Farooq, who has been monitoring the operation, said it would continue till the recovery of all trapped persons.

A senior administrative official said a forensic team had collected evidence from the site and further inquiry into the blast was underway.

This is the second blast in two days caused by the explosion of a gas cylinder.

In a statement later in the evening, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the loss of lives in the building collapse and extended condolences to the bereaved families.

He prayed for the speedy recovery of the wounded people and directed authorities to provide them with the best medical aid.

On Saturday, seven passengers were burnt alive and 14 sustained injuries when a van caught fire after its gas cylinder exploded near Bhalwal Commerce College in Punjab’s Sargodha district.

According to police, an overloaded Hiace van was going from Bhalwal to Kot Momin, when the gas cylinder installed in it exploded near Bhalwal Commerce College.

Last month, at least five, including three children, were killed and seven others were injured in three separate gas cylinder explosions across the country.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2023