HYDERABAD: Six people were killed and seven injured when a powerful explosion ripped through an illegal fireworks factory inside riverine area of Latifabad on Saturday, police, rescue and hospital officials said.

“A powerful explosion was reported in a firecracker factory on the left bank of Indus river inside riverine area within the jurisdiction of B-section police station near Laghari Goth,” Hyderabad SSP Adeel Chandio told reporters at the Liaquat University Hospital (LUH).

The sound of the explosion was heard miles away. Residents of nearby localities rushed to the scene and started shifting bodies and injured to the LUH.

Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner Dr Zain Ul Abedin Memon told the media that a fire broke out in the factory immediately after the blast.

Search operation in progress to look for people trapped beneath debris; CM Murad orders inquiry

A fire and rescue team, ambulance and fire tenders were dispatched to the scene as soon as the information was received.

Rescue 1122 Media Coordinator Zeeshan Jhatial, who was present at the site, told Dawn that the roof of the factory fell in a manner that it was being cut with machinery and that the staff were still unsure whether anyone remained trapped beneath the debris.

He said the blaze caused by the blast was extinguished by firefighters, adding that the site was being cleared by Rescue 1122 staff.

‘Illegal factory’

Latifabad Assistant Commissioner Saud Lund said that the fireworks were being illegally manufactured in a house without a licence.

However, the Hyderabad SSP said: “Initial findings show that the factory owner [Asad Zai] actually got a licence for some other spot but he was manufacturing fireworks at the present location.”

He said that the owner was absconding and details of the factory’s licence were being verified

Hyderabad Mayor Kashif Shoro also visited the site of blast and then inquired after the health of injured shifted burns ward and its high dependency unit (HDU).

The injured were identified as Shiraz, son of Sanaullah; Waqas, son of Arshad; his brother Kashif; Anas, son of Akram; Naeem, son of Yusuf’ and Mushtaq.

Three of them suffered 98 per cent burns and their condition was said to be critical.

CM orders safety audit

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar took notice of the incident and directed officials to provide the best possible medical care to the injured.

According to a CM House spokesperson, the chief minister ordered authorities to determine the cause of the explosion and conduct a comprehensive audit of the factory’s safety measures. “Negligence in safety matters will not be tolerated, and strict action will be taken against those responsible,” he said.

Home Minister Lanjar instructed officials to immediately investigate the factory’s legal status and verify whether it held the required licence and adhered to safety regulations for manufacturing fireworks.

“Playing with people’s lives cannot be allowed. Such incidents are unacceptable,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2025