A powerful gas cylinder explosion ripped through a residential building in the Soldier Bazaar area of Karachi early Thursday morning, leaving at least 16 people dead and more than a dozen injured.
According to rescue officials, the blast occurred on the first floor of a three-storey building in Gul Rana Colony at around 4:30am, as families were preparing for sehri during the early days of Ramadan. The intensity of the explosion caused a portion of the structure to collapse, trapping several residents beneath the debris.
Emergency teams, including Rescue 1122 and local volunteers, rushed to the site and carried out rescue operations in the narrow streets of the densely populated neighbourhood. Several victims, including women and children, were pulled from the rubble. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
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Police registered a case and arrested the building owner, stating that the structure was allegedly constructed illegally on a small plot with multiple floors. Initial investigations suggest the explosion was triggered by a gas leak, though a detailed forensic report is awaited.
The tragic incident has once again raised serious concerns about gas safety measures, illegal constructions, and building regulation enforcement in Karachi’s residential areas. Authorities continue their investigation as the community mourns the devastating loss.
