A devastating gas explosion rocked Karachi’s densely populated Soldier Bazaar area on Wednesday night, claiming at least six lives and injuring several others after a residential building partially collapsed. The incident unfolded in Gul Rana Colony, where a gas leak is suspected to have triggered the powerful blast on the first floor of a house.
Emergency responders from Rescue 1122 swiftly mobilized to the scene, deploying an urban search and rescue team equipped with a disaster response vehicle. They managed to pull 11 people from the rubble and rushed them to nearby hospitals for urgent medical care. Rescue operations stretched into the early hours, as teams combed through the debris in a frantic effort to locate any remaining survivors.
Deputy Commissioner East Nasrullah Abbasi voiced concerns that two more individuals could still be trapped under the collapsed structure. The blast caused extensive damage to the building, exacerbated by a cylinder explosion, turning a bustling neighborhood into a scene of chaos amid narrow lanes clogged with crowds.
This tragedy comes amid a spate of explosive incidents in Pakistan. Just two days prior, northwest regions saw deadly bomb attacks and clashes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district, where a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device targeted a security checkpoint, killing 11 personnel, a child, and injuring seven others, including women and children.
Authorities continue to investigate the root causes, underscoring the persistent risks of gas infrastructure failures and security threats plaguing urban and border areas alike. As recovery efforts press on, questions loom over safety standards in Pakistan’s aging residential buildings.