Three people were killed and more than twenty left wounded on Wednesday (today) after a blast reported in Lahore’s Johar town area.
According to rescue officials, the blast took place in Lahore’s Johar Town area near Ahsan Mumtaz Hospital.
Lahore CCPO Ghulam Mehmood Dogar, in a statement, said that the injured were immediately shifted to Jinnah Hospital. “The nature of the blast is being determined,” he said.
He also commanded officials to keep citizens away from the site of the blast so that there is no barrier in carrying out rescue and relief efforts.
A spokesperson for Rescue 1122 said that it was not immediately clear what caused the explosion. “So far we have not been able to determine whether a gas pipeline burst or whether it was a cylinder. But we have shifted four people [to the hospital] and more injured are expected,” he said.
Also, Punjab Health Minister Yasmin Rashid has arrived at Jinnah Hospital to witness the injured.
She told that several injured are currently in critical condition and the death toll may rise.
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According to sources, the explosion was heard far and wide and was so powerful that the windowpanes of nearby buildings were smashed.
On the other hand, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has taken notice of the blast and ordered the IG to examine the incident and submit a report.
“Those responsible for the blast should be brought under the law,” said Buzdar.
He told authorities to provide the best medical facilities to those who were injured. He also told the additional IG CTD to reach the scene of the explosion.
Moreover, Lahore Deputy Commissioner Mudassir Riaz Malik said that 12 people, including women and children, had been injured.
“We will only be able to determine the cause after carrying out an investigation,” he said, adding that the area was being cordoned off.