BAHAWALPUR, Jan 26: The Dubai ruler’s deputy and UAE Finance Minister Sheikh Hamdan Bin Raashid Al-Maktum had a narrow escape during a hunting trip in Cholistan on Saturday night when a landmine went off which claimed the life of one of his escorts and seriously injured two others.

The incident took place near Kalapahar, about 100km from here. The landmines were laid last year by the Pakistan army during standoff with Indian troops.

Sheikh Hamdan’s cavalcade came to a halt when a pilot jeep hit a landmine.

Saifullah Taif, 26, died on the spot, while Ali, 22, and Khalifa, 24, said to be brothers, were seriously injured.

The minister’s vehicle was fourth in the order. His aides conveyed emergency messages through satellite phones to the government of Pakistan and Bahawalpur administration, including army and civil officials.

They demanded army helicopters for airlifting the dead and the injured to a nearby hospital. But, the army could not help as it was too dark for the helicopter to land in the desert.

The local civil officials, with ambulances, reached the site of the explosion at 3am and brought the body and injured to the combined military hospital, Bahawalpur.

CMH commandant officer Col Muhammad Ishaque said that the condition of the two seriously injured was stable.

Saifullah Taif’s body will be sent to the UAE.