By Zaheer Sial
Mandi Bahauddin: A tragic incident took place in the Kot Phule Shah area of Mandi Bahauddin district of Punjab, where a firework explosion caused loss of life and property.
The explosion was so intense that its sound was heard far and wide and a house was completely destroyed. Six people died in the incident while seven were injured, and were immediately shifted to the hospital by rescue teams.
According to initial investigations, the blast was caused by to short-circuiting of electric cables in the same room where explosive material of fireworks was stored. The deceased include 1-month-old baby Pakeezah Fatima, 6-year-old Haram Fatima, 35-year-old Sameera Bibi, 38-year-old Iqra Bibi, 39-year-old Ramsha Bibi, and 32-year-old Farhan. The injured include Asim, Rizwan, Kamran, Musa, Hashim, and Ayesha, who were immediately shifted to the government hospital Phalia. According to doctors, the condition of some of the injured is critical and their treatment is ongoing.
Motives of the explosion and investigation
SHO of Paharyanwali police station Muhammad Akram reached the scene of the incident and collected evidence and revealed in the initial report that 12 to 15 kg of fireworks were present in the house. The police have registered a case and named 3 persons Aamir Shahzad, Arbaaz, and Farhan, and have initiated action against them under sections 322, 427, and sections 3/4 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1998.
Atmosphere of grief and mourning in the area
After the incident, an atmosphere of fear, panic, and mourning prevailed in the area. Residents have demanded that the government and administration impose a complete ban on the manufacture, storage, and illegal use of fireworks and that those responsible for this matter be severely punished.
According to eyewitnesses and people in the area, the explosion was so severe that the house and nearby houses were partially damaged and it took a long time to extract the people buried under the rubble. Rescue teams acted with professionalism and shifted the injured to the hospital, while the bodies of the deceased were also recovered from the rubble.
While SP Investigation Rana Muhammad Aslam visited the scene and directed strict action against the responsible persons. According to Rescue 1122 DEO Imran Khan, the explosion was caused by the illegal production of fireworks, which is a result of serious negligence. People living in the neighborhood claimed that local police knew that illegal production of fireworks had been going on in this house cum factory but no action was ever taken because local police were allegedly bribed by the factory owners.
This sad incident highlights the serious dangers of illegal manufacture and storage of fireworks, and this incident is a warning to the authorities to take strict measures in this regard.
