KARACHI, May 8: Panic was created and an atmosphere of uncertainty prevailed in Karachi on Wednesday following an explosion which left 14 people dead.

The news about the blast spread like a wildfire and the explosion was heard in a radius of 15 kilometres.

People rang up newspaper offices to seek more details about the blast. There were also rumours of explosions at Empress Market, Purani Numaish, Korangi Creek, Airport, Gulshan-i-Iqbal and other areas, which created panic among citizens.

Life in the city remained disturbed and everyone was perturbed over law and order situation. Many people, after hearing the news about the blast, did not go to their workplaces and many returned back to their homes earlier than their usual timings.

The law-enforcement agencies continued to patrol the city to maintain peace and to meet any eventuality.

TRAFFIC JAMS: The movement of vehicular traffic remained disturbed on Abdullah Haroon Road and Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road in the aftermath of the bomb explosion.

The police and paramilitary forces cordoned of the area and blocked the Club Road for vehicular traffic soon after the blast.

The traffic police and other law-enforcement agencies controlled the traffic movement. Due to the closure of the Club Road, the Abdullah Haroon Road at Hotel Metropole and Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road at PIDC intersection remained crowded throughout the day and traffic moved at a snail’s pace.

People, moving on these roads, were curious to see what had happened and they stopped their vehicles, which caused traffic jams.