Burn victim dies

Published January 2, 2003

RAWALPINDI, Jan 1: A 20-year-old man, who was critically burnt when fire erupted at a CNG filling station on Tuesday, died at the Rawalpindi General Hospital on Wednesday, police and hospital authorities said.

Meanwhile, a woman and her two daughters sustained burn injuries after fire broke out in their house in Dhoke Matkial (Gunjmandi) due to gas leakage on Wednesday.

Mohtarma, 35, the wife of Mohammad Latif, and her daughters Nasreen (15) and Sanam (12) were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital after the incident.

According to hospital authorities, the victims are in a stable condition.

In another incident, a 20-year-old taxi driver, Sajjad, was burnt critically after his clothes caught fire.

Gul Nawaz, the elder brother of the burn victim, said Sajjad returned home after getting his cab repaired and sat beside his mother in the kitchen when all of a sudden his clothes caught fire. The victim’s mother also sustained slight burns on her hands while rescuing her son.

Sajjad was shifted to the RGH with 45 per cent burns where he is said to be in a critical condition.

FIRE AT CHURCH: Some worshippers were slightly hurt in a stampede after fire broke out in a crowded church in sector F-8/4 on Wednesday night causing concern among law enforcing agencies.

About 250 to 300 worshippers were leaving the Fatima Church after New Year’s prayer services when a child threw a coal grate in a dust bin, an official of the fire department said. Thick smoke filled the hall, however no one was affected by it, eye witnesses said. The fire engines, ambulances and rescue police also arrived at the scene and evacuated the church, they added.