Karachi: 24 dead, dozens hurt in Abbas Town blast

FRONTIER POST

At least 24 people including women and children were killed and dozens others sustained injuries after a powerful blast ripped through a densely populated area near Abbas Town, Geo News reported. According to sources, the perpetrators used remote-detonated improvised explosive device (IED) strapped to a motorcycle at the entrance of Abbas Town following which the CNG clyinder of a car exploded few minutes later.Fire broke out in some of the apartment buildings after the explosion while at least a dozen shops and two banks were destroyed.. "Thick black smoke is billowing from the site of the blast. The whole area reeks of detonated explosives", said sources right after the blast. The local residents did not wait for the government officials or the rescue services and started pulling people out of the rubble and rushing them to the hospitals on their own. They complained that no government team or machinery showed up after the blast. In the wake of the blast police personnel did reach the spot but backed off soon after. "Lawmen including Rangers are nowhere near the site of tragedy. They are shy of facing the bereaved and the catastrophe which befell them. We can see them deployed at a distance", they said. According to DSP Sachal Qamar Ahmed, the explosive device was planted inside a motorcycle, which the perpetrators parked in populous residential/commercial area. "There are many teashops and eateries in the area so we fear the casualties might rise", said police. Police added that the target of the bombing were the worshipers coming out of a nearby mosque. The blasts damaged many buildings and dozens of shops, sources said. "So powerful was the explosion that it blew off the facades of several flats facing the explosion site. Windowpanes of most of the surrounding buildings turned into smithereens. Even some doors came off the hinges", they added. Moreover the natural gas leaking profusely from broken the plumbing is also posing a serious threat as people have been warned not to strike matches or smoke in the area, sources warned further. Some of the injured have been shifted to Patel Hospital and while others to Abbasi Shaeed. Sources in Patel Hospital have confirmed seven casualties with women and children among the dead along with seven cases of critical injuries. On the other hand Abbasi Shaheed Hospital authorities say they have received two dead bodies and ten injured. At least two dead bodies and seven injured including three children and a married couple were in Jinnah Hospital emergency room, sources added. Sindh Chief Minister, Qaim Ali Shah condemning the incident in strongest terms announced Rs1.5 million for each bereaved family and Rs1 million per injured. Meanwhile the MQM has announced a day of mourning, while the Jafria Alliance has announced a strike on Monday. Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen has announces 3 days of mourning.