A fire broke out in the underground line of the National Oil Refinery (NOR) situated near the Korangi Industrial area Karachi, resulting in the severe burning of six people.
The explosion took place when work was being carried out on the refinery’s underground line, leading to the blaze in which four laborers, a security officer, and a resident were burnt.
The incident occurred near Mehran Town’s sector 15.
Chhipa Foundation’s ambulances rushed to the scene after the fire was reported and took the injured to the hospital, with the aid of the area’s residents.
The fire brigade, area police, and Ranger’s personnel also reached the location soon after the incident was reported.
A spokesperson of the fire brigade said that the fire was brought under control by two fire tenders from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and one from the NOR.
After the explosion, a digging tractor and a Suzuki high-roof were burnt, along with the paraphernalia from four makeshift houses nearby.
According to eyewitnesses, there was a spark that caused a loud explosion leading to a fire following the excavation that had started at 3 am with a digging tractor. Four line workers, a security guard, and a resident fell far away from the explosion with their bodies ablaze.
Chhipa personnel using the help of residents helped smother the fires from their bodies and rushed them to a hospital.
The injured were identified as 30-year-old Azizullah son of Amanullah, 38-year-old Shafiullah son of Alam Khan, 45-year-old Magar Khan son of Umar Gul, and 30-year-old Tufail son of Ramazan.
Earlier this week, a major market in Karachi’s Saddar area was engulfed in a devastating fire late on Sunday night when the market was closed. Traders have complained that the fire completely destroyed 90% of the shops and warehouses leaving them financially crushed.
They claim that the fire was so ferocious that it continued till Monday morning. A huge majority of shops and godowns in the market operated in the business of readymade garments and clothes.
The KMC fire brigade, assisted by firefighters and vehicles from the navy, personnel from the civil administration, and other rescue services were able to put out the fire after several hours.
