KARACHI: A man was killed and five others were injured when an empty oil tanker exploded during repair work in Shirin Jinnah Colony on Saturday, police and rescue services officials said.

Boat Basin SHO Naseer Tanoli said that the explosion took place when some workers were doing the welding work under the oil tanker which had no oil.

Contingents of the police and rescue services rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident. The tanker was badly damaged in the incident.

Officials said that the blast was so huge that window glasses of nearby apartments were shattered.

Investigators and bomb disposal squad examined the blast site and later ruled out the possibility of any sabotage.

Rescue-1122 official Hassaan Khan said that one welding worker, identified as Zulfiqar Mohammed, was killed in the incident. He added that five other persons, including a passer-by woman, suffered injuries.

The body and the injured persons were taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

The area SHO said that it appeared that some gases had accumulated in the tank and the welding work triggered the explosion.

The rescue official said no safety precautions were taken during the welding work.

However, the SHO said it was an accident.

He said the victim’s family has not approached the police for pursuing the case legally.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2024