Karachi blast: One killed, scores wounded in powerful explosion in Saddar

KARACHI: At least one person was killed and nine persons sustained injuries in a powerful explosion in Karachi’s Saddar Town on Thursday night, ARY News reported.

According to the initial reports, a powerful explosion hit one of the busiest business centres in Karachi’s Saddar Town on Thursday night at Dr Daud Pota road. At least six to seven persons sustained wounded in the blast while several vehicles were completely destroyed in the incident.

It is suspected that explosive material was hidden in the heaps of garbage at Dr Daud Pota road.

Due to the powerful blast, window glasses of several buildings. Eyewitnesses told ARY News that several persons on motorcycles and cars got injured in the blast who were passing through the street.

An eyewitness said that he and his brother were taking out their parked motorcycle when the explosion occurred near them. His brother sustained injuries in the blast.

The wounded persons were immediately shifted to nearby hospitals. According to hospital sources, a person succumbed to injuries at the hospital.

Jinnah Hospital’s Executive Director Dr Shahid Rasool told ARY News that overall nine wounded persons were brought to the hospital of which four are critical.

Dr Rasool added that some persons have sustained wounds of ball-bearing and will be shifted to the operation theatre soon for surgeries.

Heavy contingents of police and Rangers cordoned off the whole area, whereas, the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) started the investigation to ascertain the genre of the explosion.

It was learnt that a government vehicle was passing through the road at the time of the explosion. The government workers travelling in the vehicle got injured and have been shifted to the hospital and their condition is out of danger.

A police officer told the media that a vehicle of the Pakistan Coast Guards was partially damaged in the incident and two officials got wounded but their condition is out of danger.

Investigation sources said that it was a bomb explosion carried out by a remote-controlled device. Sources added that the explosive material was planted on a motorcycle which was parked on the busy road.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the Saddar blast and ordered the additional inspector general (AIG) Karachi and commissioner to submit the report.

He directed police, Rangers and district administration to provide assistance to the affected people at the incident’s site. The chief minister imposed an emergency at Civil and Jinnah Hospital besides ordering to provide the best medical facilities to the wounded persons.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the Saddar blast and vowed that the anti-peace elements will be eliminated from the country. He directed Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah to provide the best medical facilities to the affectees of the Karachi blast.