MULTAN: In an unfortunate pre-dawn incident, six people were burnt to death and 39 received injuries during the unsafe transfer of LPG on Multan-Muzaffargarh Road near Fahad Town here on Monday.
According to witnesses this reporter talked to, the incident took place during the transfer of LPG from a giant tanker to small tankers. They said this illegal practice had been going on for a long time. Complaints were lodged with the authorities concerned time and again but no action was taken.
“We were asleep when all of a sudden we heard a deafening bang as though some aircraft had crashed onto our rooftops in the middle of night,” an elderly woman said.
She said the area people had lodged complaints many a time against the illegal refilling practice but of no avail.
Witnesses said the giant tanker’s parts flew into the air landing onto the mud houses destroying the rooftops, walls and animal sheds. Injured people, especially women and children, were pain and crying.
Police said the most tragic part of the incident was that when the gas started leaking from the main tanker, the driver, supporting staff and godown owner escaped instead of taking the preventive measures to safe people.
The gas continued to leak for a long time and then a huge ball of fire engulfed the tanker burning six people to death on the spot and injuring 31 others. The injured were rushed to the Nishtar Hospital.
Soon after receiving a phone call about the incident, the Rescue 1122 dispatched ambulances, fire engines and rescue teams. CPO Sadiq Ali Dogar visited the scene and supervised the relief activities.
The CPO directed the police teams to provide full cooperation in relief operations and ensure security measures in the affected area. He also visited the Nishtar Hospital’s burns unit, where he inquired after the injured, reviewed their treatment and assured them of all possible assistance.
Talking to journalists, Dogar expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
The CPO shared a preliminary report stating that 15/16 persons were refilling LPG gas from the tanker when suddenly a fire broke out in the main tanker. The accused escaped from the spot without informing anyone or Rescue 1122.
The tanker exploded with a big bang with the leaping flames engulfing those around. Further investigations are on. A case has been registered against eight persons by name and five to seven unknown people. Three people have been taken into custody.
Commissioner Amir Karim Khan visited the crime scene soon after the incident and monitored all the rescue operations. Meanwhile, Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafiq instructed the hospitals for best treatment of the injured.
The minister said the bodies of six persons had been received. He said one person was discharged after treatment at the Nishtar Hospital. Four patients have been shifted to the pediatric department of Nishtar Hospital.
The minister said 29 patients were shifted to the Pak Italian Burns Center from where four patients were discharged after treatment. Among the patients treated at the center are two children, 12 women and 11 men.
The condition of five patients is critical, while the condition of the remaining patients is out of danger. Senior doctors, paramedics and allied staff are on duty to ensure better treatment of patients, said the minister. He said an information counter had been set up at the Pak Italian Burn Center to facilitate the patients’ families.
The police have registered FIR No 382/25 against eight nominated accused and 6-7 unknown persons. The accused have been identified as Allah Bux, Muhammad Yaqoob, Ghulam Abbas, Muhammad Ilyas, Muhammad Aqil, Ramzan, Shakil and Ghulam Murtaza.
They were refiling LPG from tanker number Sawat-5377 at the godown of Allah Bux. The six deceased have been identified as Abdi, 8; Kamran, 20; Ismael, 30; Shahzadi, 19; Zareena Bibi, 50; and an unknown person.
APP reports: Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday condoled the death of five people in the tragic incident. In their separate statements, the president and the prime minister conveyed their condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families.
They prayed to Allah Almighty for peace for the departed souls, strength for the grieved families to bear the loss, and for the recovery of those injured in the incident. Shehbaz directed the authorities concerned to identify the reasons behind the explosion and take measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.