December 24, 2008	Wednesday	Zilhaj 25, 1429

KARACHI, Dec 23: A huge explosion in a van carrying firecrackers in Al Noor Society of Federal B. Area killed at least two people and left three others severely injured on Tuesday, police and witnesses said.

The devastating explosion left several houses in the street damaged and area residents in a state of shock and panic.

Most eyewitnesses agreed that an explosion was heard at around 4.30pm in a Suzuki hi-roof filled with firecrackers which was parked outside a house rented out by a family.

Members of the family were said to be involved in the manufacturing of the firecrackers, which find eager buyers among New Year revellers, and they stored the explosive wares in their Block 19 house, located on a narrow street.

“We suspect the hi-roof was being prepared to move a routine supply of the firecrackers,” said an area resident. He went on to say that the blast damaged his house’s walls and the windows of the first floor. “The blast threw the hi-roof more than 50 yards away and the first floor of the house caught fire, with huge flames leaping out.”

The police later ascertained that the house was rented out by a family who had resided on the first floor of the building for more than five years and run a firecrackers manufacturing and supply business.

“A man named Imtiaz has been identified. He is the guardian of the family,” said Khawaja Naveed, SP of Gulberg Town. “The man with his family – his wife and four children - are missing. We have not identified either of the two bodies whose parts were retrieved from the blast site and from different sections of the street. The force of the huge explosion left them charred beyond identification.”

He said the police team was engaged in tracing Imtiaz’s relatives and family connections before reaching any conclusion about the bodies. However, SP Khawaja said both the victims were men.

“We have cordoned off the area and asked people to stay away from the affected house, as it has been severely damaged and may fall to the ground,” he added. “The police will lodge an FIR under the Explosive Substance Act once they have completed other formalities and gathered necessary items from the crime-scene.”

Both bodies and the three injured were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where doctors said their burns were not of life-threatening severity.

“All the three injured were released after brief treatment,” said an official at the hospital. “However, examining the bodies, we believe that the victims were very near the explosive material, as parts of their bodies are missing while one of them is almost headless. The victims were most probably in their late 30s or early 40s, but it will take time to reach any conclusion.”

In Al Noor Society, hundreds of people thronged the street hit by the explosion in extreme shock. Most of them were aware of the fact that Imtiaz had a firecracker manufacturing facility inside his home, but they had preferred to ignore the illegal activity.

“I only remember that once one of our neighbours raised the issue. He told that man [Imtiaz] very gently to avoid such business inside the house, as it poses a danger to his own children,” said one of the residents of the affected street.

Two fire tenders took almost an hour to control the blaze, which left the house completely burnt and also affected the two neighbouring houses. Officials said the fire could have been worse, but the timely response of the people in the area stopped it from reaching dangerous levels.

“Explosives used in firecrackers are a little different from those used in bombs or other incendiary materials,” said the Chief Fire Officer, Ehtashamuddin. “In this particular case, it became dangerous because of its large quantity. The whole hi-roof seemed packed with such material. This caused the blast and the major damage was caused due to that blast, and not the explosive material.”

He said mishandling of the material could have caused the blast, adding that due to the flammability of the explosives, even a small source of fire could trigger a major explosion.

“Transportation of such firecrackers in vehicles always involves risk,” he added. “In this case there is a possibility that these materials were heated while being kept inside the hi-roof for hours. In the past we have witnessed a case or two due to such reasons,” he concluded.