Pakistan: Blast in Karachi killed at least 17 people, injured several locals

In an unfortunate incident, Karachi’s Paracha Chowk witnessed two massive blasts that killed at least 17 people and injured several others. The blast turned buildings into rubbles and dead bodies of people were strewn around at the site.

According to reports, the blast took place in a drain that flows below a commercial building where a bank was operating. Several people were working there and many visitors used to come for their financial work.

According to the bomb disposal squad, the explosion took place due to the accumulation and leakage of the gas which unfortunately caught fire. The bank was earlier served a notice to vacate the premised for the cleaning of the drain.

Reports say that police have confirmed that there is no involvement of any terrorist activity in the blast.

Among those who died in the blast was Dilawar Khan, who was the father of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party’s Alamgir Khan.

According to Pakistan’s The Express Tribune which published an initial tweet and informed, “At least eight people have died so far and scores of others were reportedly injured in a blast in Karachi's Shershah Paracha Chowk area on Saturday.”

It added, “Rescue officials rushed to the scene soon after to shift the injured to nearby hospitals.”

The newspaper also informed that Prime Minister Imran Khan offered condolences to the families of the victims who suffered in the blast.

“I am especially saddened to hear of the loss of our MNA Alamgir Khan’s father who also perished in the blast,” the premier wrote on his official Twitter handle.