QUETTA: Two people burned to death and five others, including an assistant commissioner, were injured when an LPG bowser exploded after catching fire in Taftan, a town on the Pakistan-Iran border.

Officials said the incident occurred late on Wednesday night when a gas bowser parked at an LPG plant caught fire, later engulfing the vehicle and triggered a powerful explosion.

Chagai Deputy Commissioner Jahanzeb Shahwani said the deceased included Munawar, a resident of Nushki. The injured included Taftan Assistant Commissioner Naeem and four others identified as Shehryar, Waheed, Nauman and Zaheer Ahmed.

Initial reports suggested that the fire broke out while gas was being transferred from a bowser arriving from Iran to another bowser at the plant. Fire brigade and rescue teams rushed to control the blaze, but during the operation the bowser suddenly exploded, intensifying the fire. The blaze was so intense that it could be seen from several kilometres away, creating panic among residents.

Multiple bowsers, shops and vehicles were reduced to ashes in the fire. Fire tenders from the nearby Iranian border town also reached the site to assist in firefighting efforts. The blaze was brought under control after about 15 hours.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2026