KARACHI, Dec 24: At least six persons, including three of a family, were wounded and four apartments were damaged when a fire followed by an explosion shook a residential building in Bihar Colony in Chakiwara police limits early on Saturday morning.

According to the area residents, an explosion took place on the first floor of the five-storied building, which caused panic in the entire complex. Due to the explosion, four apartments were partially damaged and residents were trapped in its rubble. People residing in the building and adjoining locality rescued the trapped persons.

Due to the mysterious explosion, walls of four flats were damaged badly and a few fell down, while windowpanes of the other adjoining buildings were broken.

The injured, who were taken to the Lyari General Hospital and the Civil Hospital were identified as Noman Fareed, 18, Javed Fareed, 20, Nasreen, 35, Aziz 40, Moshin, 25 and Moosa, 65.

Area police reached the scene and called the Bomb Disposal Squad, which after checking the site told the police that it was not a bomb explosion. The BDS experts told the police that the explosion could have been caused by accumulation of some gases.

SUICIDE: A newly-married woman, Sana Tahir, 22, committed suicide by jumping off the fourth floor of the residential complex where her apartment is located..

The victim was a resident of Sector 11-H, North Karachi.