4 members of a family killed in People’s Colony gas blast

Rawalpindi
Four members of a family, including a man and his three children -- two teenage boys and a minor girl -- lost their lives in a gas blast at a house in People’s Colony here on Sunday. While the man's wife was shifted to the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) in critical condition, the ‘Rescue-1122’ and police said.
As many as 14 people have been killed in gas-related incidents in Rawalpindi and Islamabad last year due to gas loadshedding, data collected from different sources disclosed.
The explosion rocked the house in the garrison city of Rawalpindi. The gas leakage following gas loadshedding caused the tragedy as the incident took place in the morning at about 8:30 a.m. A family member lit a matchstick to open gas stove. A powerful blast occurred and fire erupted due to gas leakage. Three children sitting near the stove caught fire and burnt to death, while their parents sustained burn injuries.
The neighbours told the media that a loud bang occurred at a house located in Street 62 at about 8:30 a.m. Fire engulfed the house after the explosion. The people living in the street said that they came out of their houses and rushed to the house to help people trapped there, but rising flames prevented them from rescue work. However, the ‘Rescue-1122’ team reached the scene within 10 minutes of the incident and started rescue work.
During rescue operation, the rescuers took out the head of the family and his wife alive in critical condition and shifted them to the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) but their three children were already dead. The rescuers took out the dead bodies and shifted them to the hospital. Later, the head of the family, Mohammad Ashfaq, 45, succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. His wife, Hasna, 40, has been battling for her life with 80% burn injuries.
Three children who died on the spot were identified as Waqar Ashfaq, 19, Mohsin, 18, and 5-year-old Hina.