At least 14 people were murdered and more than a dozen more were wounded in a bomb at Paracha Chowk in the city’s Shershah neighborhood on Saturday.
PTI MNA Alamgir Khan’s father was one among those killed in the blast, according to PTI-Karachi President MPA Khurram Sher Zaman, as worries of more deaths grow as the search and rescue effort continues.
Mohtarma, Shaheed Dr. Sabir Memon, the chairman of the Benazir Bhutto Accident Emergency and Trauma Centre, revealed that the total number of corpses received was 14.
Meanwhile, DIG South Sharjeel Kharal added that ten wounded individuals have been released after receiving proper medical care, while six others are still being monitored, including two who are on a ventilator.
The police claim the explosion was caused by gas, but the SSGC disagrees.
According to a report from the bomb disposal team, the incident occurred in a gas pipeline flowing through a nullah in the region, inflicting extensive damage to the building of a private bank that was built on top of it.
As law enforcement agencies and other authorities were conducting a rescue effort, the spokesman said that there was no evidence that the bomb was related to terrorism.
In a statement, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) stated its staff had determined there was “no SSGC gas pipeline” in the region. “The gas pipes that have been placed in the vicinity are safe and have not been damaged.”
According to the BDU report, the SSGC determined that the explosion was caused by a burst in the sewage pipe.
“It’s crucial to note that no flames were seen, and there was no scent of natural gas in the region – indicating that the incident was unrelated to any of SSGC’s pipelines,” it said.
Accounts of eyewitnesses
Many persons were buried under the wreckage of the structure, according to eyewitnesses on the scene just nine bank personnel were reporting for duty.
He said that the bank was going to relocate, but that it was “our terrible luck” that the bomb occurred before the branch could relocate.
According to the eyewitness, a few bank clients were also buried in the rubble.
Another eyewitness told Geo News that he was filling up his motorbike with gas when the explosion occurred.
When the bomb happened, the eyewitness stated he saw a few individuals fall into the nullah under the structure.
The second detonation
A second explosion occurred during the rescue and search effort when a few electric wires that were being removed clashed with a gas line.
The second explosion caused no casualties.
Sindh’s Chief Minister has ordered an investigation.
According to a spokeswoman for Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, the commissioner Karachi has been instructed to undertake an investigation into the event and submit a report on the findings.
“Police personnel should be involved in the probe so that all elements [of the bomb] may be explored,” the chief minister said, expressing great sadness over the deaths.
CM Shah directed the secretary of health to offer prompt medical assistance to the wounded at the Civil Hospital.