Karachi / Islamabad: At least 16 people were killed and 15 others were injured in the finance capital of Karachi Pakistan on Saturday when a strong explosion, apparently triggered by a gas explosion in a closed waste sewer, the construction of a private bank that was located on it, police said.
Most of the victims reported by customers and staff present in HBL banks built on closed waste sewers in the Shershah Karachi area and fainted following the explosion, the Tribune Express newspaper reported.
Secretary of the Sindh Qazi Department of Shahid Pervaiz confirmed that 14 people died in the explosion, while 15 others were injured, the Dawn newspaper reported.
The dead also included the father of the powerful Pakistani Tehreek-e-Casa member Alamgir Khan.
Sho Zafar Ali Shah said the explosion occurred in the exhaust channel located under a private bank, which has served notifications to empty the place so that the sewer can be cleaned.
Karachi Administrator Murtazah Wahab said that the investigation was ongoing to ensure the cause of the explosion.
The initial report of the bomb disposal squad (BDS) said that the explosion was caused by a gas buildup at the sewerage line.
A senior official was quoted in the report said that counter-terrorism officials also investigated the explosion.
A police spokesman clarified that there were no instructions that suggested that the explosion might be related to terrorism, reported Geo TV.
Meanwhile, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), said that “there was no SSGC gas pipeline” in the area, the report said.
Allowing the BDS report, SSGC said, “It is important to note that there is no fire seen or there is no natural gas smell in the area – which is a clear indication that the explosion is not related to one of the SSGC pipes.” The police said that the Bank’s construction was built on a narrow flow of water that had sewer and gas, making it difficult to ascertain whether the explosion was caused by accumulated gas in the sewerage line or something that happened with gas pipes or explosives placed there.
“We don’t know whether it’s a gas explosion.
Our first priority is rescue operation and then we can determine the cause of the explosion,” Sharjeel Kharal said, deputy deputist police for the southern region.
The explosion’s footage showed the damaged building and debris on the ground along with a damaged vehicle because rescue workers tried to take the injured.
According to a report at Geo TV, eyewitness claims that there are many people who are buried under the rubble of the building.
Excavators have been called to the site to remove debris and save everyone who is trapped there.
The bomb disposal unit (BDU) has also arrived at a recorded location, said Geo TV report.
According to an eyewitness account, it is Saturday, there are only nine RBL employees who report banks to serve.
Another eyewitness said that he saw several people falling into the flow of water, under the building, when the explosion occurred.
Geo TV report said that the second explosion occurred during rescue and search operations when several electrical cables, which were revealed, collided with gas lines but no loss of life was reported.
Head of Sindh Murad Minister Ali Shah has ordered a detailed investigation into the incident.
The explosion occurred a day before Pakistan hosted the 17th extraordinary meeting of OIC Foreign Minister in Islamabad to overcome the situation in Afghanistan.
Information Minister Sindh Saeed Ghani said that in accordance with the details he had received so far, bank buildings were built and given rented by industry associations.
“I cannot understand that how the agency can build a building on the NULLAH (drain) and rent it,” said Minister.
The minister said in principle, the construction of any structure in the sewer was not legal, Dawn reported.