KARACHI, Jan 2: At least nine people, five women among them, were injured in a gas pipeline explosion on the premises of the Sindh Government Hospital, Liaquatabad, on Friday night.

The blast caused panic in the area, making police and rescue services spring into action.

“The explosion occurred apparently due to a leakage in the pipeline which was laid recently,” SP Amir Farooqi said.

Nine people suffered injuries from flying pieces of glass shattered by the impact of the explosion, the SP said.

No one suffered life threatening injuries, sources said.

The hospital’s trauma centre was inaugurated a day before, officials said.

There was evidence suggesting that the explosion had been caused by some explosive device such as a cracker, SP Farooqi added.—S. Raza Hassan