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DERA GHAZI KHAN:
A man was killed and two others injured in an LPG tanker explosion near Kot Chutta on the Indus Highway.
The explosion caused a fire which engulfed two of four parked LPG tankers. The blaze also spread to a nearby petrol station.
Fire brigades from Parco and Rajanpur were called in to contain the inferno, while senior officials rushed to the scene to assess the situation.
The incident occurred near the Noutak area of Kot Chutta, where four LPG tankers were parked at a roadside hotel.
As per the initial reports, a gas leak caused a fire that led to multiple explosions.
A 60-year-old man, Momin Khan, from a nearby nomadic settlement, lost his life. The fire also engulfed a nearby petrol station, escalating the severity of the situation.
Rescue teams from Dera Ghazi Khan and neighboring districts quickly reached the scene, cordoning off the area and evacuating nearby settlements to prevent further casualties.
Two fire-fighters, Abdul Rauf from Dera Ghazi Khan and Mujahid Iqbal from Rajanpur, sustained injuries while battling the flames.
Both were shifted to local hospitals for treatment.
Deputy Commissioner Usman Khalid declared an emergency at district hospitals and placed medical staff on high alert.
DSP Kot Chutta, Arshad Khan Rind, confirmed that residents of nearby areas and the hotel were evacuated to safety as a precautionary measure.
Senior officials, including Punjab Home Secretary Noor-ul-Amin Mengal, Commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan Ashfaq Ahmed Chaudhry, Regional Police Officer Captain (Retd.) Sajjad Hassan Khan, and District Emergency Officer Engineer Ahmed Kamal, visited the site to oversee relief operations and gather information from witnesses.
Commissioner Ashfaq Ahmed Chaudhry has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and requested a detailed report from the Deputy Commissioner.
Chairman of LPG Dealers Pakistan, Muhammad Irfan Khokhar, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident.
He reiterated his longstanding demand for stricter regulations regarding LPG transportation. “We urge the government to enforce legal standards for LPG containers and cylinders to prevent such disasters. Those involved in illegal and substandard LPG practices must be held accountable,” he said.
Authorities are now investigating the root cause of the fire and explosions. Commissioner Ashfaq Ahmed Chaudhry commended the response of rescue teams, which helped prevent further loss of life. However, he emphasised the need for long-term measures to ensure safety in the transport and storage of hazardous materials like LPG.
