Rescuers scour the rubble after a powerful explosion, said to be caused by the accumulation of gases, ripped through a fully-covered drain at Lasbela Chowk propelling (right) a pickup on top of another vehicle at the blast site on Friday.—Fahim Siddiqi / White Star
Rescuers scour the rubble after a powerful explosion, said to be caused by the accumulation of gases, ripped through a fully-covered drain at Lasbela Chowk propelling (right) a pickup on top of another vehicle at the blast site on Friday.—Fahim Siddiqi / White Star

KARACHI: Eight persons were injured and some vehicles destroyed when a powerful explosion occurred in a covered drain due to accumulation of gases near Lasbela Chowk within the remit of the Soldier Bazaar police station on Friday, police and rescuers said.

Rescue services and law enforcement agencies rushed to the scene and shifted the wounded to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi for treatment.

They called the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) to ascertain whether it was an act of sabotage or not.

Area SHO Pir Shabbir Haider said that a road had been constructed near the Hashmani cloth market over the drain, making it airtight.

He said that the blast took place at a time when majority of the shopkeepers had gone to offer Friday’s prayer due to which only a handful people were affected.

He said the number of injured could have increased up to 200-300 as it was a busy commercial area.

A pickup, a car and motorcycle, some furniture and kitchen items of an eatery were damaged.

Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed said that the condition of one of the injured person was serious.

An area resident told Dawn that there used to be a fuel station at the place of the incident many years ago. Later, a building was constructed on the piece of said land, where the cloth market had been established.

He said that there was a dire need to end encroachment on drains to avoid such incidents.

East-SSP Zubair Nazeer Shaikh told Dawn that police were waiting for the final report from the BDS to determine the exact cause of the explosion.

However, an initial probe revealed that the explosion had taken place due to accumulation of gases inside the drain, he added.

This is not the first incident of its kind. In December 2021, some 16 people were killed and many others injured when a building housing a private bank in the Shershah area collapsed due to a huge gas explosion in a drain on which it was constructed.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...