Hyderabad cylinder blast death toll rises to six with over 60 injured

HYDERABAD: The death toll from a gas cylinder blast at an LPG filling shop in Hyderabad’s Preetabad area rose to six on Friday as two more children succumbed to their injuries in Karachi’s civil hospital.

According to the details, eight-year-old Ali Hasan passed away at 7 AM, and twelve-year-old Azaan Ali died at 4 AM today. The other children who succumbed to their injuries were identified as Bilal, 15, and Raheem, 5, Rescue 1122 officials said.

The blast took place in the LPG cylinder filling shop located on the ground floor of Zacha Bacha Hospital area along Mir Nabi Bux Town Road in UC-8 of Neerunkot town.

At least 60 people, mostly children, received serious burn injuries and later shifted to Karachi after being provided emergency treatment at the Liaquat University Hospital (LUH).

Some 18-22 injured persons with 80pc to 90pc burns were referred to a major hospital in Karachi. Talking to the media, the chief minister Sindh said that 19 injured people including nine children and a woman were brought to the Civil Hospital Karachi.

Liaquat University Hospital officials said those who were shifted to Karachi are Azam, 7, Bilal, 11, Azam, 9, Hasnain, 7, Ali Raza, 2, Abdul Hadi, 14, Zulfiqar, Akram Shah, 38, Raeesudin, 35, Ali, Akram, 50, Abbas, Dodo 25, and Faizan, 40.

Governor Kamran Tess0ri, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali along with ministers visited Burns Ward and inquired about the health of injured persons. The Sindh chief minister directed the doctors to provide better treatment.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.