Nine Killed, 10 injured by Blaze, Road Mishaps in Punjab
Pakistan Times National News Desk

CHICHAWATNI: Three persons were killed and six others sustained serious injuries in different road accidents in Chichawatni on Monday, a day after Eid.

A young motorcyclist Shabbir Ahmad (16) rammed into a rickshaw and expired on the spot on Burewala road.

The Second One

In the second incident a 5-year-old Shauban was run over and trampled to death by a speeding car near Chak 22/11-L, while a motocyclist Zafar died in a mishap near river Ravi on Kamalia road.

Those injured in two of the accidents identified as Karam Din, Ashraf, Zulfiqar, Shafqat and Imran were shifted for treatment to the local hospital.

Fireworks blaze claim four Victims

Three minor children and their mother were killed when a blaze erupted in a room filled with fireworks material in Shamoon Chowk area in Naushera Virkan Tuesday morning, police said.

The three kids burnt alive while their mother succumbed to burn injuries in a Lahore hospital. The father is also in the hospital in critical condition.

The fireworks explosion was so severe that roof of the room in which the family was sleeping caved in and also damaged the neighbouring houses and shops.

"The explosion shook the entire neighbourhood, with flames shooting up into the sky and damaging adjoining houses and shops," witnesses said.

Neighbours say, the father of the kids Ashraf Masih used to make firewoks for weddings and festive occasions. They said that his three children Falak Sher (4), Ruth (6) and Rukhsar (8) were asleep in the same room on the second floor of the building where the fireworks material was kept.

This highly flammable material somehow caught fire and exploded with a huge bang that was heard for miles.

Ashraf and his wife Sofia managed to escape from the inferno but could not save the kids who remained trapped under the debris, and could not be rescued despite efforts of the neighbours and Civil Defence volunteers.

The injured couple were shifted to Mayo Hospital, Lahore for treatment, where Sofia later succumbed to her injuries, while Ashraf is still in critical condition.

People Demand

On getting information of the incident, senior administration officials Naushera Virkan and DSP Kamonke, Syed Valayat Hussain reached the site, and directed the authorities to investigate the cause of the fire, and to ensure that the fireworks business is removed to the outskirts of town in future.

People have demanded that a proper fire brigade facility be provided in Naushera Virkan as part of essential public amenities.

Stray bullet claims boy's Life

A boy was killed when a stray bullet hit him in Bhabra, near Sargodha town on Monday.

Reportedly, two rival group of Ranjha tribe trading fire when an unidentified boy who was passing by was hit by a stray bullet and died on the spot.●