3 killed, 15 injured after explosion near Karachi’s Maskan Chowrangi
Three people have been killed and 15 injured in an explosion near Karachi’s Maskan Chowrangi.
Three people are in critical condition and two of the injured people are women.
Rescue, police and Rangers teams are at the scene. The area is being cordoned off and the bomb disposal squad has been summoned. The police believe, however, it was a gas or cylinder explosion but have summoned the BDS as a precautionary measure as the sound of the explosion was very loud.
The police believe the blast occurred within the bank. A security guard injured was in the blast, and the marks on his body indicate that it was a gas blast, according to the initial report given to police officials.
The explosion was reported on the ground floor of the four-storey Allah Noor Apartments in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. The apartments are opposite the Karachi University gate.
There are fears that some people might be stuck beneath the rubble. The ground floor had a bank and businesses while residential apartments were located on top. Staff were already at the bank and rescue teams are working to pull people out from beneath the rubble.
One section of the apartment has collapsed and the top floors have been evacuated.
The injured and deceased are being taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Some people were also injured when rubble from the building fell on them.
The windows of nearby apartments shattered due to the intensity of the branch.
The Mobina Town police station is very close to the blast site. Multiple small restaurants are also located in the area. The area is not a commercial area but is densely populated. The apartments are old and rather well known.
Police officials are currently saying that it is a cylinder blast, but only the BDS team can determine the nature of the blast. Tuesday’s blast in Shireen Jinnah Colony was initially declared a cylinder blast but ball bearings were later found at the scene.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the explosion and summoned a detailed report from the Karachi commissioner. He also ordered the immediate provision of medical services to the injured and expressed his sorrow over the deaths.
This is a developing story and will be updated as details become available
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