Karachi awoke to horror on February 19 as a gas cylinder blast in Soldier Bazaar’s Gul Rana Colony reduced a residential building to ruins, killing at least 16 people including women and children. The explosion, which occurred at dawn during the pre-dawn meal of Ramadan, has left the community in shock while rescue workers toil relentlessly.
According to police spokesperson and Rescue 1122 updates, the blast originated on the first floor due to a gas leak, causing the entire structure to crumble. Six women and four children are confirmed among the dead, with 14 injured treated at local hospitals. Civil Hospital received 13 fatalities, highlighting the blast’s ferocity.
Rescue operations involve specialized teams sifting through tight, debris-filled rooms in what was revealed as an unauthorized building pieced together unsafely. Dr. Abid from Rescue 1122 explained the operational hurdles: narrow confines and structural instability have slowed progress, with nearby homes also suffering damage.
Authorities swiftly secured the crowded site, preventing public interference as heavy machinery and sniffer dogs aid the search. The incident, in one of Karachi’s most congested areas, has sparked questions about building regulations and gas safety enforcement.
As the death toll stands at 16, with potential for more, this tragedy serves as a stark reminder of vulnerabilities in informal settlements. Officials promise thorough probes, but grieving relatives demand immediate accountability and better preventive measures to avert future calamities.