Fireworks blast kills seven in Multan
05 August, 2012
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| MULTAN: Rescue workers are busy in their work at the site after fire erupted in a godown of fire works, at Chowk Bazaar. |
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MULTAN: Seven people lost their lives on Saturday after a blast occurred at a fireworks factory at densely populated Hussain Agahi Chowk in the Kup police precincts.
Three people were killed on the spot and another 20, including women and children, received burn injuries. Rescue and relief teams rushed to the scene and shifted the injured to Nishtar Hospital, where another four people succumbed to their injuries. Later, relief workers recovered more people from the debris. However, they are facing difficulty in relief work due to fire in the building. The police cordoned off the entire area.
According to City Police Officer (CPO) Amir Zulfiqar, a case has been registered against the occupants of the factory-cum-house. He also said the Kup police station house officer has been suspended for insufficient security, adding that departmental inquiry was being carried out against the deputy superintendent of police for criminal negligence. The police have arrested owner of the house, Zulfiqar, from Nishtar Hospital in injured condition. Zulfiqar told the police that the house belonged to his father-in-law.
Meanwhile, Punjab Inspector General (IG) Habibur Rehman has taken notice of the explosion. According to the Punjab Police spokesman, the IG ordered the Multan CPO to take action against those responsible in the incident. The IG has also ordered police to launch a crackdown on illegal firework factories.
PML-N leader Malik Ishtiaq showed up at the explosion scene and vowed that the Punjab government would take immediate action against the culprits. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi also visited the affected area. He said the government should form a committee to investigate the incident. Meanwhile, Multan Division Commissioner Khuram Ali Agha visited the Nishtar Hospital to inquire after the injured people's health.
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