DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A woman, a grandson and a granddaughter were burnt alive and four others, including a woman and children, were seriously injured when a house caught fire after an explosion in Mohalla Chaman Chowk, a densely populated area of Dera Ismail Khan city, here on Friday.

SHO city police station Mohammad Ramzan told Dawn that a fire broke out inside the house of Mohammad Yaqoob Qureshi in Chaman Chowk. He said it was not yet known whether the fire was caused due to electricity short-circuit or gas leakage. He said after an explosion the fire spread rapidly and engulfed the entire house. A part of the house also collapsed.

He identified the victims as 55-year-old Shabana Bibi, wife of Yaqoob Qureshi, five-month-old Shifa Bibi, daughter of Mohammad Israr Qureshi, and six-year-old Mohammad, son of Naveed Qureshi.

The condition of some of the injured is said to be critical.

An official of SNGPL told Dawn on contact that there was a gas loadshedding in the area at the time of the incident, so there was no possibility of a fire caused due to a gas leak.

Rescue coordinator Aizaz Mehmood told mediapersons that Rescue 1122 firefighting and medical teams rushed to the spot on the report of the incident, where injured people were provided first aid and the fire was brought under control.

Two fire vehicles, two ambulances and 15 personnel took part in the operation, he said.

District emergency officer Fazal Manan supervised the operation.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2020