KARACHI: An explosion took place inside a closed private bank branch in Nazimabad on Friday causing damage to the property, police said.

The blast was so powerful that it was heard from far distance triggering panic among residents. However, bomb disposal experts said it was caused by accumulation of gases in an underground water tank.

The Paposh Nagar police said the “blast occurred in Askari Bank, Paposh Branch near Khilafat Chowk”. However, the branch was closed and no casualty was reported. The shutter and windowpanes got damaged.

Police and Rangers personnel rushed to the spot and a bomb disposal squad team was called to examine the place and determine the nature of the explosion.

SSP-Central Murtaza Tabasum ruled out the possibility of any sabotage or terror activity.

He said that the explosion took place inside a tank due to accumulation of gases as the bank was situated in a residential building.

He said that no guard was present in the bank because of the public holiday.

He said one vehicle parked outside the bank was also damaged in the incident.

Area SHO Farhan Sarwar said that the BDS gave its report stating that the explosion was caused by accumulation of gases in the underground water tank of the building. Walls of the bank and a portion were damaged on account of impact of the explosion.

Three hurt in explosion

Three persons were injured in an explosion caused by the leakage of gas in the Liaquatabad area on Friday evening.

The police said that Arsalan, 27, Naveed, 23, and Faisal, 30 suffered burn injuries and were taken to the burns centre of the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi for treatment.

Area SHO Liaquat Hayat said that all of them suffered minor injuries and were discharged after first aid.

Celebratory firing kills man

A man was killed when unknown persons resorted to firing into the air in jubilation during a wedding in Quaidabad on Friday evening, according to police.

They added Fazal Kabir suffered critical bullet wounds and died on the spot.

The body was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for medico-legal formalities.

Man shot dead on city’s outskirts

A young man, who had survived an attempt on his life in which his wife was killed some months ago, was shot dead on the outskirts of the city on Friday, according to police.

They added that unknown men killed Ameer Zaman, 35, inside a cattle farm in Ibrahim Goth near Ghaghar Phatak. The body was shifted to the JPMC to fulfil legal formalities.

The police termed the murder an outcome of some personal enmity.

Steel Town SHO Mumtaz Marwat said during initial investigations it transpired that the victim had divorced his first wife after 10 years of marriage.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2020