Five workers were killed and seven others seriously injured when fireworks exploded near Khokhran police station on Sunday morning. According to police, workers were making fireworks under trees near a warehouse owned by Muhammad Amin and Muhammad Ishfaq of Habib Gunj when the material caught fire. Resultantly, it exploded and killed two people on the spot.
Their limbs were scattered in a wide area and some were found stuck in the trees. Rescue 1122 rushed to the spot and removed the injured to hospital and collected parts of the bodies from places and trees.
The dead include Zafar of Tajpura, Liaqat and Imdad of Thatha Khokhran and Irshad of Kassoki Road, Hafizabad, while a body has not yet been identified. Seriously injured Nadeem, Umair and others were rushed to the DHQ hospital from where Nadeem was referred to Lahore due to his critical condition.
The incident took place in an unpopulous locality due to which damage to life and property was comparatively low.
DPO Karamatullah Malik and police contingents also reached the spot and sealed the building which remained intact because the explosion had taken place about 50 yards away. The DPO said five cases had been registered against the owners in the past but they were released on bail. Police have registered a case against Muhammad Amin, Muhammad Ashfaq and others who are on the run.