09 March 2005	Wednesday	27 Muharram 1426

RAWALPINDI, March 8: As many as 11 people were injured when fire broke out in two commercial buildings in Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Tuesday, witnesses and hospital sources said.

In the first incident, seven people sustained burns, wounds and cuts in a "gas-leak explosion" that ripped off the facade of a four-storey Muslim Commercial Bank branch at Chandni Chowk, Rawalpindi, on Tuesday.

The explosion, according to firefighters and police, occurred in the bank kitchen situated in the basement at about 2:20pm when one of the employees attempted to put a match to the stove. It followed another explosion in the airconditioning unit which caused fire and shattered windowpanes of the building.

District Police Officer Syed Moravat Shah ruled out the possibility of any act of terrorism and said: "The first explosion occurred due to leakage of gas and then the AC gas plant exploded which caused fire and shattered windowpanes. The fire resulted in collapse of the false ceiling and also damaged other items."

Some of the bank employees offering prayers in the basement sustained burns and wounds, while other sitting in their offices came out of the building in panic. The loud explosion was heard even outside the city limits. Firefighters doused the fire, and the injured were shifted to the Rawalpindi General Hospital.

Mohammad Adil, one of the victims, told Dawn from the hospital bed that he was offering prayers when the explosion occurred. "I attempted to come out of the building but failed to do so because the entire basement was filled with smoke," he said.

"I do not know what exactly happened," he added. Federal Minister for Information Sheikh Rashid Ahmed also visited the site surrounded by police. He ordered setting up a four-member committee to investigate the cause of the explosion. The committee will be headed by EDO (revenue) Mohammad Bashir Farooqui.

According to bank manager Munir Saleem, the bank record and the cash remained safe during the explosion, however, he confirmed that some employees had been injured.

The wounded treated at the RGH were identified as Zafar Mehmood, Mohammad Adil, Mohammad Hanif, Sardar Ahmed Khan, Khalid Maish, Mohammad Ashraf and Mohammad Yasin. Four of the victims were allowed to go after first aid.

According to the bomb disposal experts, it was a gas-leak explosion. The firefighters had to face problems during rescue efforts as they did not have search lights. Smoke was still emitting from the rubble even after the sunset.

Our Staff Reporter From Islamabad Adds: Four persons were slightly burnt after fire broke out in a building situated in Blue Area on Tuesday, causing huge loss of valuables and damage to property, fire department said.

The fire, which erupted in the basement of Ali Plaza at about 8:30am, spread quickly and engulfed other adjacent areas within minutes. Thick clouds of smoke could be seen from far.

Firefighters and police were immediately called, and the building was evacuated for rescue operation. It took the firefighters three hours to douse the flames. As a result, four persons - Mujtaba, Abid, Mohammad Younis and Mohammad Saidq - were slightly burnt when they were trapped in the fire.

Later, Mr Mujtaba was shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, while Mr Younis, Mr Sadiq and Mr Abid were taken to Federal Government Services Hospital. The injured were allowed to go home after treatment. According to the doctors, they had suffered minor burn injuries. The fire department said the incident occurred due to leakage of gas.