KARACHI: Fifteen people, including four children and six women, lost their lives and 13 others were injured when a residential building collapsed following an explosion in Soldier Bazaar No. 3 in Karachi’s district East early Thursday morning.
According to rescue officials, the explosion occurred at around 4:15am during Sehri in Gul Rana Colony, near Aga Khan School, Soldier Bazaar.
The blast, reportedly caused by a gas leak, led to the collapse of the building, trapping several residents under the rubble.
Rescue teams, including ambulances and volunteers from the Edhi Foundation and Chhipa Welfare Association, rushed to the spot and transported the injured and deceased to Civil Hospital Karachi. Treatment for the injured was ongoing. Rescue sources said search operation was completed on Thursday afternoon, after which debris removal work had begun. However, officials fear that one to two persons may still be trapped under the rubble.
Deputy Commissioner East Nasrullah Abbasi confirmed that the intensity of the blast severely damaged the structure, causing it to collapse. He added that narrow streets in the area hampered rescue efforts. DIG East Dr Farrukh Lanjar told the media that initial findings suggest the explosion resulted from a gas leak. He said the exact nature of the blast would be determined after a chemical examination and that a formal investigation has been initiated. Authorities will also determine whether the building was legally constructed, and action will be taken against those found responsible. Authorities said investigations are ongoing to determine responsibility and the exact sequence of events leading to the fatal explosion. According to the Bomb Disposal Squad in-charge Abid Farooq, the incident occurred due to a gas leak.
Chief Operating Officer Dr Abid stated that the blast occurred on the first floor of the building, which consisted of small rooms. He confirmed that the building was not a legal construction and that nearby structures also sustained damage.
Police Surgeon Karachi Dr Summaiya Syed said that as of Thursday afternoon, 15 bodies had been brought to the mortuary, while 13 injured persons were receiving treatment. The deceased included 27-year-old Qambar Ali, son of Baloch Khan, his 21-year-old wife Yasmeen, and their two-year-old daughter Nargis. Another affected family comprised 35-year-old Zainul Nisa, wife of Shahid, and her two sons, 12-year-old Sajjad and 18-year-old Abbas. A 28-year-old man, Nadeem, and his five-year-old son Waseem also lost their lives in the incident. Among other victims were 20-year-old Afshan, daughter of Anwar Ali, along with her two younger sisters — 17-year-old Anisha and 15-year-old Aqsa. Two more sisters were identified as 10-year-old Nazia, daughter of Vikia, and 15-year-old Benazir. The other deceased included 60-year-old Riaz, son of Usman, and six-year-old Sono, daughter of Jabbar.
Eyewitnesses said the explosion was so powerful that nearby buildings shook, triggering panic in the densely populated neighbourhood. Authorities urged the residents to stay away from the site to avoid hindering rescue and debris clearance operations.
The building was in a densely populated locality marked by extremely narrow lanes — so narrow that only one person can pass through at a time. The structure was a ground-plus-three, with additional occupancy on the rooftop, effectively making it four storeyed. It was constructed on approximately 30 to 35 square yards. Officials said the building was entirely made of precast material and constructed on girders supporting four floors. Due to its precast structure, the building reportedly failed to maintain structural balance after the explosion and collapsed.
The area is among several parts of Karachi where gas load-shedding is routine. Residents said that when gas supply resumes after outages, it often returns with unusually high pressure. Locals stated that gas was not available in the area for the past few days, but the gas company had announced special supply for Sehri hours. As a precaution, many residents had filled gas cylinders to avoid inconvenience. Investigators suspect that a gas valve may have been left open, and when high-pressure gas supply resumed, it accumulated inside the house. The explosion likely occurred when a matchstick was lit.
Officials said the kitchen’s gas fittings were defective and plastic pipes had been used for gas supply. The use of plastic pipes and joints significantly increases the risk of leakage. Gas suction machines were also installed in the house.
Both the deputy commissioner (East) and DIG East have indicated that action will be taken against those found responsible once the investigation is completed.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed deep sorrow over the incident, while provincial minister Sharjeel Inam Memon termed the tragedy extremely unfortunate and sought a report from the authorities.
