CHAGAI: Eight people, including a boy, were killed when a gas cylinder exploded in a welding shop at Mashkel market near Pak-Iran border in Washuk district on Monday.

Mashkel Assistant Commissioner Ameer Hamza Bangulzai told Dawn that four shops collapsed due to the impact of the blast.

He said bodies were shifted to a nearby hospital. “Initial investigations suggest that the explosion was caused by a technical fault in the gas cylinder being used for welding,” he added. He said majority of the deceased belonged to an Afghan refugee family based in Girdi Jangal, a refugees’ camp in Chagai district.

Seven of the deceased were identified as Qari Boro, Hafiz Nazeer Ahmed, Abdul Qadeer, Bor Mohammad, Rehmat Ullah, Hikmat Ullah and Khan Mohammad.

Security forces cordoned off the area after the incident and an investigation was launched by police.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2021