Gas Cylinder Blasts: Kills Dozens, Injures Several in Pakistan
By Akram Malik - Pakistan Times Punjab Bureau Chief

LAHORE: With operations to recover people from beneath the wreckage of a multi-storey building, which collapsed in a densely populated vicinity of the Punjab metropolis—Lahore in pre-dawn hours today—count of the exact digit of casualties was being carried-out beyond mid-day on Tuesday.

Whereas some reports suggest the death of dozens with injuries to several, an official version places the figure as almost 30 dead and 55 wounded. The dead also include some children who fell victim to the tragic episode before they could see the sunup of Tuesday, May-3, along with their parents and other loved-ones.

Gas blasts tore through the building in Allama Iqbal Town killing over 20 people including two children and four women, trapping several others.

Rescuers were searching for people caught under the rubble of the collapsed four-storey building, located in residential suburb of the city, police said. The building was housing an ice cream factory, gas cylinder storage in basement and residences on four floors.

A gas cylinder caught fire and the blaze spread to other canisters stored in the basement, resulting in a huge explosion that destroyed the building. The blast was so powerful that it broke windowpanes of nearby houses.

The 4-storey building fell down all of a sudden near the Sabzi Mandi, taking death toll close to over 30 till the moment of Pakistan’s first independent daily e-Newspaper ‘Pakistan Times’ going to the digital publication on the web—on Tuesday. While the injured are being shifted to hospitals, a few bodies have been retrieved from debris.

Police have cordoned off the locality along the adjacent vicinities in the best interest and security of the people and to carry out the rescue operations without any obstruction.

The building wherein a gas cylinder godown and ice cream factory existed suddenly collapsed as the Monday night was to end due to which dozens of people were flattened under the wreckage.

Police, city government and other civic bodies were busy in rescue operation and relief work to recover the other people stranded in the debris.

Dozens under Debris

Several other people have received injuries however dozens of people are still stranded under the building and the search for them is underway.

Local residents say that at least 35 people are stranded under the building however none of the dead have been identified.

Doctors at the Jinnah hospital have confirmed the deaths of ten people including two children while the condition of two of the injured is stated to be serious.

Details

At least 30 people were killed and as many injured in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore on Tuesday when three buildings collapsed after gas cylinders exploded, police and witnesses said.

More people were feared trapped in the debris of the buildings, comprising shops and residential flats, witnesses said. Police said 12 bodies had been recovered from the site. The cause of the blast was not immediately known but police ruled out any sabotage.

"Around 3.30 a.m., cylinders were being filled with gas when a loud explosion took place. The three buildings collapsed after the blast and people of the neighborhood came rushing out," Superintendent Police Mobin Ahmed told reporters.

Residents said about 40 people lived in the three buildings and most of them would have been asleep at the time of the blast.

Punjab CM announces Compensation

Meanwhile, the Punjab Chief Minister Ch Pervaiz Elahi has announced Rs 1,50,000 compensation for heirs of deceased, and Rs 50,000 cash and free treatment for injured in the Lahore building collapse.

Chief Minister of Punjab visited the spot Tuesday and directed that the search and rescue operation be done expeditiously and effectively.

He also ordered a thorough investigation and promised stern action against those proved responsible for the disaster and loss of precious lives.

Later the CM, visited hospital to see the injured. He directed hospital officials for satisfactory medical facilities to the injured.●