KARACHI: One more victim of the Gulshan-i-Iqbal building blast died on Friday bringing the death toll to six, said officials.

They added that a 19-year-old man succumbed to injuries during treatment at a private hospital.

Five persons were killed and 27 injured when a huge explosion allegedly caused by gas leakage occurred inside a private bank located in a multistorey residential-cum-commercial building near Maskan Chowrangi on Wednesday morning.

The police have registered a case against “responsible” persons on the complaint of the bank manager over allegation of manslaughter, etc.

Heirs of one of the victims have also submitted an application for registering a case against the bank management over “negligence” as the bank management allegedly did not get rectified the gas leakage problem inside their kitchen.

However, Gulshan SHO Safdar Mashwani said that two FIRs could not be registered in a same case. He said deaths, injuries and destruction to property have been mentioned in the FIR.

Building being demolished

Meanwhile, the authorities have started razing the four-storey building as they have declared it unsafe because of the impact of the blast that destroyed its three pillars and completely destroyed its first floor.

The residents have been displaced as they have been asked to get their flats vacated.

Meanwhile, the area SHO said that the affected residents had hoisted banners on Friday urging the government to get their building reconstructed.

They demanded they be provided compensation for the dead and injured.

Shopkeepers also demanded early completion of investigation into the case.

There were restaurants, a bakery, shops and banks located on the ground floor of the building.

Fire under Nagan flyover

Five cars were damaged when a fire erupted under the Nagan Chowrangi flyover on Friday, said officials.

They added that the blaze erupted under the flyover where vehicles were parked.

The fire engulfed five vehicles, which were damaged, said a fire brigade official adding that the cause of the fire could not be ascertained immediately.

In another incident, another fire broke out in a factory in the SITE area on Friday afternoon. Firefighters controlled the blaze. No casualty was reported.

Man shot dead in Mauripur

A 30-year-old man was shot dead in Mauripur on Friday morning, said police.

They added that Mir Hasan was riding his rickshaw when armed motorcyclists opened indiscriminate fire on him near Javed Bahria.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2020