Gas Blast in Lahore: Casualties digit swells to 30 in Pakistan
By Akram Malik - Pakistan Times Punjab Bureau Chief

LAHORE: Towards the end of operations to recover jammed people from beneath the wreckage of a 3-storey building, which bowed in a densely populated vicinity of the Punjab metropolis Lahore with a gas cylinder blast in pre-dawn hours on Tuesday the by and large digit of casualties swelled to almost 30 dead with over 50 injured—some of them stated to be in critical condition in sickbays.

As reported by Pakistan's first independent daily e-Newspaper, 'Pakistan Times' in its edition of Tuesday, May-3, whereas some reports had suggested the death of dozens with injuries to several, an official version placed the figure at close to 28 dead with over a dozen wounded.

The dead also include children who fell victim to the tragic episode before they could see a new sunup, along with their parents and other loved-ones.

The 3-storey building collapsed in Kamran Block, Gulshan Iqbal in the wee hours of Tuesday and threw a pall of sadness in the entire locality as hundreds of people gathered at the scene, most of them crying. All the dead were labourers, mostly vendors, belonging to suburban areas of the city.

The City District government officials termed the incident the biggest disaster in recent years that has claimed more than two dozens lives. The Rescue Operation started after a delay of two hours due to darkness and unavailability of cranes, locals said.

The mishap occurred due to the explosion of a gas cylinder. Gas blasts tore through the building in Allama Iqbal Town killing over 30 people including children and women and trapping several others. “The store, established in the basement of the three-storey building, contained more than 200 gas-cylinders,” said an eyewitness.

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.

The 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.

Edifice fell down all of a sudden near the Sabzi Mandi (Vegetable Market), taking death toll close to over 30 till last reports. While the injured were shifted to hospitals, bodies were being retrieved from debris till late in the Tuesday night.

Cordoned Off

Soon after the episode, Police 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 received injuries, however dozens of people remained stranded under the building till the time they were pulled by the rescue ops as search for them remained intact by private and public organizations.

Local residents said that at least 25 people were capped under the building. Doctors at the Jinnah hospital have confirmed the deaths of 27 people including children while the condition of some of the injured 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, Lahore, police and witnesses said.

More people were feared trapped in the debris of the buildings, comprising shops and residential flats, witnesses said. Police said 20 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. [10:30 GMT] cylinders were being filled with gas when a loud explosion took place. The building collapsed after the blast and people of the neighborhood came rushing out," Superintendent Police Mobin Ahmed told reporters.

Residents said about 55 people lived in the affected buildings and most of them would have been asleep at the time of the blast.

The bodies of the 27 dead, including three women and two children were pulled out from the debris, said sources, while the injured persons were rushed to diverse hospitals of the city.

Single Family

Among the bodies recovered, seven were of a single family who have been identified as Fazal Hussain, his sisters Munnawar Bibi and Shahzadi, his father Mohammad Ashiq, mother Kulsum Bibi, and two minor children Shahroz (4 years) and Shah Mir (2 and half years) from Sajpaal area in South Cantonment area.

Some of the other deceased include Fateh Muhammad, Allah Ditta, Muhammad Amin, Ali Asghar, Imran, Ibrahim, Muhammad Munir, Muhammad Ayub, Ashfaq, Muhammad Iqbal and Javed, most of them labourers hailing from Depalpur and Arifwala.

The Injured

The injured have been identified as Asma wife of deceased Fazal Hussain, Nazir, Yaseen, Saleem, Usman and Nabeel.

Police said the basement of the 3-storey building housed a godown for refilling gas cylinders. The impact of the explosion brought the entire building down, and damaged a truck (LXC-4874) parked outside.

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.

Orders Probe

Meanwhile, Ch. Pervaiz Elahi has directed all District Nazims and DCOs to take strict action against the elements involved in filling of gas cylinders, fireworks and other illegal business activities in residential areas and submit a report to the provincial government to this effect.

Talking to newsmen, the Chief Minister said he was deeply grieved over the loss of precious human lives in this tragic incident. He said, "instructions have been issued for an inquiry into the matter and strict action will be taken against the guilty persons".

Orders were also issued for identification of the elements engaged in such illegal business activities so that stern action could be taken against them.

Later, an emergent meeting was summoned at Chief Minister's House wherein the CM asked Provincial Minister for Law and Local Government, Muhamamd Basharat Raja for the early implementation of orders issued against the elements engaged in illegal business activities in residential areas.●