At least 15 killed in Punjab factory gas explosion

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 15 people were killed and several others injured on Friday as a result of a gas explosion at a factory near Faisalabad’s Malikpur area in Pakistan’s Punjab province

Rescue 1122 said the incident took place early in the morning after the boiler of the factory exploded, causing the collapse of the building and nearby structures, according to Dawn.com

However, the rescue service later attributed the explosion to a gas leak, which was also confirmed in the statement issued by Faisalabad Commissioner.

The statement by the commissioner’s office said no boiler was present in the factory, adding that four factories were operating in the Malikpur area. “A fire erupted in one of the factories due to gas leakage and engulfed the other factories as well.”

Seven houses in the area were also affected, the statement said. According to Rescue 1122, the explosion caused the roof of the factory and those of adjacent houses to collapse.

Fifteen bodies were pulled out from the rubble and 10 of the injured people were taken to Allied Hospital, and three were discharged after first aid.

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