Doctor among three injured in PINS lab blast

LAHORE : Three persons, including a doctor and two allied health students were burnt after a fire broke out in the Pathology Lab of Punjab Institute of Neurosciences (PINS), here, Tuesday due to an explosion of chemical.

The two students of Allied Health Sciences School, LGH, serving on internship in the lab located, were shifted to the burn centre of Jinnah Hospital Lahore. The 28-year-old Mudassar and 22-year-old Salman suffered 80% and 20% burns respectively. The on-duty doctor, who suffered minor burns, was discharged after first aid.

The witnesses claimed that the explosion occurred either due to malfunctioning of the equipment or mishandling of the chemicals. The authorities, however, are investigating to ascertain the cause of explosion. The PINS Executive Director Prof Dr Asif Bashir reached the spot to monitor fire-fighting until fire was extinguished by the Rescue 1122 team. He informed that two technicians got burnt due to boiler blast in the lab. He said that a committee was formed under the chairmanship of Prof Dr Jodat Saleem, PINS MS, to probe the incident and submit its report.

President YDA LGH/PINS expressed regret over the incident and demanded a transparent inquiry into the matter.

The Principal Post Graduate Medical Institute Prof Al-Fareed Zafar expressed regret and formed a 5-member committee, comprising Prof Shahid, Prof Ajmal Farooq, Prof Seema Mazhar, Principal Nursing College Maimona Sattar and DMS Dr Javed Mumtaz, to investigate the matter and submit a report within 48 hours.

‘If any negligence is found on part of the staff members, strict action will be taken against them under the rules,’ he added.

Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi took notice of the incident and ordered an inquiry by asking the health secretary for a report.