Multan, January 27, 2025: At least six people, including a minor girl and two women, lost their lives, and 31 others were injured in a gas tanker explosion at an illegal LPG warehouse in Multan’s Hamid Pur Kanora area on Monday.
The explosion occurred during refilling operations at the Industrial Estate, triggering a massive fire that devastated the surrounding area. The blast reduced 20 homes to rubble and partially damaged 70 others, leaving many families homeless.
Among the injured, 13 remain in critical condition and are receiving emergency care at Nishtar Hospital, where medical staff are working around the clock. An emergency has been declared at the hospital to handle the influx of patients.
Local authorities confirmed that livestock was also killed in the blast, which occurred in the early hours of the morning. The force of the explosion sent debris flying into nearby residential areas, with fragments landing on rooftops and streets.
More than ten firefighting vehicles, equipped with foam-based fire suppression equipment, were dispatched to control the blaze. Gas and electricity supplies in the area were temporarily suspended as a precaution, although traffic on the Multan-Muzaffargarh Road has since resumed.
Multan City Police Officer (CPO) Sadiq Ali stated that a gas leak from one of the tanker’s valves was detected before the explosion. Many residents had evacuated the area after noticing the gas odor, which likely prevented further casualties.
Police confirmed that the tanker was transferring smuggled LPG to smaller bowsers and cylinders at an illegal refilling warehouse. Five additional bowsers at the site were destroyed in the blast.
Search operations are ongoing in nearby areas to ensure public safety, and residents have been advised to avoid the blast site due to lingering gas in the air.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, focusing on the smuggling and illegal operations linked to the warehouse. Legal action is expected against those responsible for operating the unlicensed facility.
