HYDERABAD: The death toll in the May 30 Paretabad LPG cylinder blast and fire tragedy rose to 18 on Tuesday after four more burns victims breathed their last.

Those who died over the last 24 hours are 17-year-old Alisha, daughter of Zeeshan; 15-year-old Umair, son of Arshad; 14-year-old Abbas Ali, son of Mubarak; and 25-year-old Doda, son of Mehar Bagri.

Zeeshan has already lost his son, Mohammad Hassan alias Ali Hyder, in the same tragedy. His another daughter, five-year-old Kinza is under treatment in the Civil Hospital Karachi with 29pc burns.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Zain Ul Abedin Memon has urged the senior executive director (LPG) and the senior executive director (enforcement) of the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to direct the enforcement teams to seal and remove illegal decanting points of LPG and CNG filling points in Hyderabad.

In his June 1 correspondence, the DC has assured Ogra and its enforcement teams of full cooperation and liaison from the district administration and police to ensure desired results. He said that most LPG shops/sale points were operating without necessary permission or NOC.

In another letter addressed to the home secretary through the Hyderabad commissioner, the DC has called for action against all such illegal outlets.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2024