6, April 2005	Wednesday	26 Safar 1426

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LAHORE, April 5: At least 12 people suffered burns and three buildings burnt when explosions caused blaze in two incidents in the city on Tuesday. Meanwhile, a seventh-class student was run over and killed on the Outfall Road by a fire brigade vehicle hurrying towards the site of one of the incidents. Waqas Ahmad, 14, had left his house to visit a telephone complaint office when his motorcycle was hit by the vehicle, which was rushing to the Bund Road. He suffered injuries and died on way to the Mayo Hospital.

A fire erupted in a plastic factory set up in a residential area on the Bund Road after chemicals stored there exploded. Its owner Nadeem Malik and an employee were trapped in the fire, which also engulfed an adjacent house, owned by Rajab Ali.

The house was literally gutted and besides Mr Ali, four other members of his family suffered burns. They included his daughter Sumaira, who was to be married next week. Her dowry worth around Rs500,000 was reduced to ashes.

In another incident, a blast took place at a locally-made gas kit manufacturing outlet in Mozang. The outlet, owned by Sher Zaman, caught fire and besides Zaman, four of the workers were injured. Two motorcycles were also burnt.

The injured were admitted to the Mayo Hospital. Of them, the condition of five was stated to be critical.

Police have registered cases.

Robberies: Robbers on Tuesday struck over a dozen times making off with cash and gold.

Mehar Kamran drew Rs500,000 from a bank and was on his way to office when two armed men intercepted his car on MM Aalam Road at Ghalib Market, and snatched the money.

Idrees was held up by two gunmen on Lytton Road and deprived him of Rs30,000 and a cell phone.

Two more miscreants snatched Rs70,000 and a cell phone from Shakil Ahmad in Garden Town.

Four dacoits stormed into the house of Younus at Sardar Colony in Gujjarpura and made off with cash, gold and valuables worth Rs200,000.

Khurshid Ahmad and his wife were on way to a market when two robbers held them hostage in Wahdat Colony and took away cash and gold jewellery worth Rs75,000. A car owned by Saeed Faizan was lifted from the same locality.

Four armed men held up Atif Jabbar in Gulshan-i-Iqbal and snatched Rs20,000 and his cell phone.

Cash and jewellery worth Rs50,000 were stolen from the house of Sadiq Masih in Garhi Shahu.

Two robbers deprived Mushtaq of Rs15,000 and a cell phone in Model Town, while as many gunmen took away a motorcycle from Dost Muhammad in Kahna. A car owned by Manzoor Ahmad was stolen from Liaquatabad.