A blast near Sher Shah Paracha Chowk in Karachi destroyed a bank and killed 14 people

 

A blast near Sher Shah Paracha Chowk in Karachi destroyed a bank and killed 14 people

KARACHI: An explosion at a private bank building near Paracha Chowk in Sher Shah area has destroyed the bank building while reports of 13 deaths are being received.

According to sources, the blast was so severe that the pillars of the bank building collapsed and the building turned into a pile of rubble. The blast was caused by a nearby petrol pump. Other buildings and vehicles were also damaged.

According to a Karachi police spokesman, the blast at the bank on the drain was due to gas leakage while according to the bomb disposal squad, the blast was due to gas filling. A police spokesman added that there was no evidence of terrorism in the blast.

DIG Police Karachi South Sharjeel Kharal has confirmed that 13 people were killed in the blast. He said that it was too early to say anything about the cause of the blast.

There was another explosion during the rescue operation but no casualties were reported. The rescue operation is currently underway. The search is on for the wreckage to be removed and another person to be present. According to Dr Sabir Memon, in-charge of Civil Hospital Trauma Center, the bodies of 12 persons have been brought to Civil Hospital. While 12 injured are also undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital. The condition of the 12 injured is said to be critical.

Eight of the 13 dead have been identified. The dead included Alamgir Khan's father, a PTI MNA and head of the Fix It organization. PTI leader Khurram Sherzaman while talking to media persons confirmed this.

An emergency has been declared at Jinnah Hospital and Civil Hospital Trauma Center on the instructions of Sindh Health Minister Azra Pechoho following the blast in Sher Shah.

According to eyewitnesses, the blast was so severe that the building collapsed while a car parked nearby flew into a ditch. Similarly, the drain and the debris of the bank building fell far away.

As of last reports, 14 people, including the father of MNA Alamgir Khan, have been killed in the blast.