March 14, 2003	Friday	Muharram 10, 1424

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SARGODHA, March 13: Seven people, including two children, were killed and 20 others injured in a stampede caused by a fire broke out in an Imambargah on Khushab Road here on Thursday morning.

A ‘majlis’ of women was in progress at the upper storey of the Block-7 Imambargah when tents erected on the terrace reportedly caught fire. It caused a stampede as everyone tried to rush down the stairs. Four women — Nasreen, Kausar, Razia and Shazia — and two children, Ali Zargham and Iqra, died on the spot.

Some 20 injured were taken to the DHQ hospital where a woman, wife of Mantaq, died while condition of three others was stated to be critical till the filing of this report.

The injured included Bakhat Bibi, Shazia Batool, Kalsoom Bibi, Faiza Batool, Nusrat, Kaneez, Bilqees, Iram, Ansar, Ghulam Mustafa, Nazar Husain, Shamim Kausar and Faiz Bibi.

Some women reportedly jumped from the upper storey and sustained fractures.

Police highups, including the DIG and the SSP, reached the spot and told newsmen that the fire broke out due to short circuit.

Local Shia leaders, however, did not agree with the administration and demanded an “impartial inquiry” to determine the cause of the blaze.

They did not allow the autopsy of the bodies and also refused to accept their custody, saying they were waiting for an advice from their high command.

Sargodha Nazim Amjad Ali Noon quoted majlis organizer Ghulam Shabbir as saying that it was purely an accident. “He has given it in writing to the administration,” he told Dawn.

COMPENSATION: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, expressing his sorrow and grief over the incident, announced a special grant of Rs100,000 each for the heirs of the deceased, Rs50,000 for each injured and Rs10,000 for those sustaining minor injuries.

This was stated by the provincial minister for irrigation while talking to Dawn.

The minister said it was mere an accident and could not be linked to the Wednesday’s shooting in Miani, Bhera, which left over dozen injured. He said there were over 500 women and children attending the majlis on the upper story which had room for 200 people only. He said the fire might have been caused by heat generated by searchlights hung close to the tents.