14 killed in blast in Pakistan's Karachi

At least 14 people were killed and 12 others injured in Pakistans financial capital of Karachi on Saturday when a powerful blast apparently triggered by a gas explosion in a covered sewage channel ripped through the building of a private bank situated on it police saidMost of the casualties are reportedly customers and staff present inside the HBL bank which was built on top of a covered sewage channel in Karachis Shershah area and collapsed following the explosion the Express Tribune newspaper reportedAn adjacent filling station was also damaged due to the explosionKarachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab said that an investigation was under way to ascertain the cause of the blastThe Express Tribune said at least 14 people including father of the ruling Pakistan TehreekeInsafs member Alamgir Khan were killed in the blastAn initial report of the Bomb Disposal Squad BDS said that the explosion was caused by a buildup of gas in the sewerage lineA senior official was quoted in the report as saying that that counterterrorism officials were also probing the explosionA police spokesperson clarified that there was no lead suggesting that the blast might be linked to terrorism Geo TV reportedMeanwhile Sui Southern Gas Company SSGC said that there was no SSGC gas pipeline in the area the report saidNegating the BDS report the SSGC said It is important to note that neither were flames visible nor was there smell of natural gas in the area mdash which is a clear indication that the blast is not linked to any of SSGCs pipelines Police said that the bank building was built on a narrow watercourse having sewerage and gas lines making it difficult to ascertain whether the explosion was due to accumulation of gas in the sewerage line or something happened with the gas pipeline or explosive material was placed thereWe have no idea whether it was a gas blast Our first priority is the rescue operation and then we can determine the cause of the explosion said Sharjeel Kharal Police Deputy Inspector General DIG for the South regionFootage of the blast showed a damaged building and debris on the ground along with damaged vehicles as rescue workers were trying to retrieve the injuredAccording to a report in Geo TV eyewitnesses claim that there are many people who are buried underneath the debris of the buildingExcavators have been called to the site to remove the debris and rescue any persons trapped thereA bomb disposal unit BDU has also arrived at the location which has been cordoned off the Geo TV report saidAccording to the eyewitnesses account being a Saturday there were only nine employees of the RBL bank reporting for dutyAnother eyewitness said that he saw a few people fall into the watercourse underneath the building when the blast took placeThe Geo TV report said that a second blast took place during the rescue and search operation when a few electric wires which were being taken down collided with the gas line but no loss of life was reportedSindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has ordered a detailed inquiry into the incidentThe explosion occurred a day before Pakistan was hosting the 17th extraordinary meeting of the OIC foreign minister in Islamabad to tackle the situation in AfghanistanThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever