HYDERABAD: The death toll of Saturday’s explosion at an illegal fireworks factory in Hyderabad has climbed to nine.
According to a police spokesperson, another body was recovered from the debris late on Saturday night while two critically burnt victims who were shifted to Karachi also succumbed to their injuries.
Police officials said that of the five injured, four were under treatment at the Civil Hospital Hyderabad, while one woman had been discharged after receiving medical care. The Hyderabad police have registered an FIR at the B-Section police station on behalf of the state against five suspects over the explosion caused by flammable materials at the fireworks facility located in Major Baqar Goth, near Naichani Mian Unit No. 10 on the outskirts of Latifabad.
The nominated suspects include factory owner Asad Yousafzai and his partners Rashid Khan, son of Ilyas, Dilshad Khan, son of Ilyas, Arshad, son of Ilyas, and Shakeel, son of Muhammad Yousaf, alias Punjabi.
The FIR also includes sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). According to the Hyderabad police and Civil Hospital administration, only four of the deceased persons have been identified so far and the identities of the remaining victims are yet to be established. Police said they had detained three individuals for questioning during the initial investigations. They added that the main suspects would be arrested soon.
