Faisalabad, November 21, 2025: At least 15 people were killed and several others injured on Friday after a powerful gas explosion ripped through a factory in Faisalabad’s Malikpur area, officials said.
The Faisalabad commissioner’s office confirmed the death toll in a statement, noting that rescuers had pulled 15 bodies from the debris—an increase from the initial figure of 10 reported by Rescue 1122.
Rescue officials initially believed the blast was caused by a boiler explosion, but later revised their assessment, attributing the incident to a gas leak. The commissioner’s office also confirmed that no boiler was installed at the factory.
According to Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwar, a fire triggered by the gas leak engulfed multiple nearby units. “A fire erupted in one of the factories due to gas leakage and spread to the other three,” the statement said, adding that seven nearby houses were also damaged due to the impact of the explosion, which caused several roofs to collapse.
Rescue 1122 said the call regarding the explosion at the glue factory was received at 5:28am. The operation, supervised by the district emergency officer, involved more than 20 ambulances and fire tenders. Videos shared by the rescue service showed workers sifting through rubble in search of survivors.
Authorities said 10 injured workers were shifted to Allied Hospital, where three were later discharged after receiving first aid. A five-member inquiry committee has been constituted to determine the cause of the explosion and identify any negligence.
Commissioner Raja said the rescue operation had been completed and the clearance of debris was under way. “We share the grief of the families who lost their loved ones in this tragic incident,” he added.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and sought a detailed report from the commissioner. She also extended condolences to the bereaved families.
Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar directed police, rescue, and fire brigade teams to provide full support at the site. He instructed traffic police to ensure unhindered passage for ambulances and rescue vehicles.
The National Trade Union Federation (NTUF), meanwhile, criticised the incident as yet another example of unsafe industrial conditions. NTUF Secretary General Nasir Mansoor said factories had “turned into death traps” for workers, accusing the government and labour departments of “criminal negligence.”
The federation demanded Rs3 million in compensation for each deceased worker’s family, along with full medical care for the injured.
Industrial accidents are not uncommon in the region. In April last year, a steam boiler explosion at a textile mill in Faisalabad injured a dozen workers and caused the roof of a hall to collapse.
