A devastating gas tanker explosion near Hamidpur Chowk in Fahad town, Pakistan, claimed the lives of five people and injured 25 others on Sunday, officials confirmed.
The incident was caused by a gas leak from the tanker, which triggered a massive explosion and ignited a large fire. The resulting blaze caused significant damage to nearby warehouses and residential houses, creating widespread panic in the area.
Emergency response teams rushed to the scene, battling the inferno for several hours before finally bringing it under control. The injured were transported to local hospitals, where several remain in critical condition, according to rescue officials.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident to determine the precise cause of the gas leak and assess whether negligence or technical failure played a role.
The explosion has left the local community shaken, with residents recounting the moments of chaos as the fire spread rapidly. “It felt like an earthquake,” said a nearby shopkeeper, who described the deafening sound and the sight of flames engulfing the area.
This tragedy comes less than three months after another major incident in Pakistan. In November, a bomb blast at a railway station in the city of Quetta killed at least 22 people and injured more than 40. The two incidents highlight ongoing safety and security concerns in the country.
Pakistan has faced repeated industrial and transport-related disasters in recent years, often attributed to lax safety regulations and oversight. Local leaders have called for stricter enforcement of safety protocols to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
As the investigation unfolds, the families of the victims are left mourning their loss, while the survivors face a long road to recovery.
