Store worker dies, six faint after inhaling lethal gas

An employee of a department store chain, Chase Up, died while six others fell unconscious after inhaling poisonous gas accumulated in the warehouse of its North Nazimabad outlet following fumigation.

According to Haidery police SHO Zulfiqar Haider, the incident took place on Friday night at an outlet of the store in Haidery.

The store’s supervisor Wasif told police that 21-year-old Syed Yahya Jan went to collect something from the warehouse before closing, where he fell unconscious. He added that when Yahya had not returned for a while, six other employees went to check on him, but they fainted there as well because of the gas accumulation.

SHO Haider said that rescue teams were called which shifted the unconscious workers to a nearby private healthcare centre where Yahya passed away.

The store’s supervisor, fumigation supervisor and two others were detained for interrogation.

The SHO further said that the store management carries out a fumigation spray at the warehouse every Thursday and leaves it closed for 72 hours till Sunday.

In his statement to the police, the fumigation supervisor, Asif said that he had sprayed the place as usual on Thursday and had left after closing it.

According to Gulberg Division Acting SP Saqib Ibraheem, the victim’s family was in contact with owners of the store, and as per reports he had received, they had pardoned the owners.

The SP said that Yahya’s family had told them they would return to register a case after burying him, but have not done so as yet.

He added that detained individuals were released after interrogation and insisted that a case will be lodged if the family approaches the police.

Shopkeeper shot dead

The owner of a cold drinks shop located near Masan Chowk, Keamari, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Saturday.

Jackson police Duty Officer (DO) Ghaffar Ali identified the victim as 45-year-old Momin, son of Mohammad Irshad. The victim was a native of Swat and had shifted to Karachi just a few months ago, said the cop.

He added that rescuers rushed Momin to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) for treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries soon after.

Ali said the victim’s body had been handed over to his heirs and an investigation had been started to ascertain the motive of Momin’s murder.