LAKKI MARWAT: Four people were wounded when an explosion believed to have been caused by gas leakage flattened a house in Dall Mills locality near Lakki city on Saturday morning.

The explosion was heard across the locality and it damaged the house completely, witnesses said, adding they saw dust smoke rising and rushed to the site.

The owner of the house had left for Saudi Arabia to perform Haj, leaving behind two relatives to guard the house. The explosion did not cause any damage to adjoining houses.

The wounded men with burns were shifted to the government city hospital. They were identified as Waqar Habib, Naushad, Shafiullah and Mohammad; however, Waqar was later referred to Peshawar in critical condition.

Lakki DSP Ashraf Khan said two passersby were among the wounded. He said police were investigating the incident and it was too early to speculate the cause of explosion.

Another official wishing not to be named said there was the possibility of gas leakage that caused explosion. The bomb disposal squad experts visited the place to clear the area and collect evidence to ascertain the cause of explosion.

Security was beefed up after the explosion and police started searching individuals and suspected vehicles on Tajazai-Darra Tang road.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2018