In a horrific incident, at least seven people were killed and around 14 others injured when an LPG cylinder installed in a passenger van with 21 onboard exploded in Bhalwal city of Sargodha district.
According to the details, the passenger van heading towards Kot Momin suddenly caught fire due to a gas leak from the LPG cylinder. It exploded near the Government College of Commerce.
Seven people were killed on the spot while 14 others were injured, out of which seven were seriously injured and shifted to the Bhalwal Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital. The injured who were taken to the hospital include two children — aged four and 12 — as well as two 50-year-olds. The bodies, out of which five could not be identified, were also shifted to the same hospital.
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The rescue team rushed to the area and responded to it in seven minutes, with nine ambulances, three fire-fighting vehicles, and a rescue vehicle dispatched to the site. Meanwhile, the police started an investigation into the incident. The driver of the van, owned by a private company, fled the scene.
Following the incident, caretaker Chief Minister Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi, took notice of the incident and extended sympathies and condolences to the victims’ families.
He directed a comprehensive investigation into the van fire, seeking a detailed report from the Commissioner and RPO (Regional Police Officer) Sargodha. Moreover, the chief minister instructed the relevant authorities to provide the best medical treatment to the injured.
Incidents like this are common in Pakistan as several passenger vans have substandard cylinders, with no quality and security checks in place. Last month, at least five, including three children, were killed and seven others were injured in three separate gas cylinder explosions across the country.
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