KHAIRPUR: Fifteen people sustained burns when a gas cylinder exploded at a restaurant near Shah Hussain bypass along the National Highway on Monday.

The victims were rushed to the Khairpur Civil Hospital in police mobile vans and other vehicles and most of them were provided treatment. Four of them, Shakeel Shaikh, Hanif, Kiran Mochi and Mujahid, were referred to the Gambat Civil Hospital due to their serious condition.

An emergency was declared at the Khairpur Civil Hospital soon after the arrival of the victims. Medical superintendent Dr Razia Panhwar was also asked to rush to the hospital but she could not make it, prompting the deputy commissioner to take notice of her absence in an emergency situation.

A large number of relatives of the victims gathered at the hospital and kept protesting against unavailability of doctors and paramedics in adequate number and a lack of proper treatment facilities at the emergency ward.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2016