Nine people were killed when an oxygen cylinder reportedly burst inside an ambulance in the village of Dano Dhandhal, Nagarparkar, Tharparkar district, Sindh, as patients were being transported to Mithi Hospital.
Five others, including women and a newborn baby, sustained severe injuries and are receiving medical treatment.
According to initial reports, the explosion occurred while a newborn and other patients were being transferred from Dano Dhandhal Hospital to Mithi. The blast triggered a fire that claimed nine lives, including those of hospital staff and local residents who were present near the ambulance.
According to hospital officials, the cylinder exploded inside the ambulance while a newborn baby was being transported to Mithi for medical treatment. Preliminary findings suggest that the blast occurred after an oxygen cylinder ruptured, although authorities have summoned specialist teams to establish the exact circumstances.
Rescue teams rushed to the scene following the incident. The injured received initial medical assistance before being shifted to Karachi for further treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were taken to Civil Hospital Mithi.
Tharparkar SSP Arif Aziz confirmed that authorities had arrived at Dano Dhandhal Hospital following the explosion. Mithi SSP Arif Aziz also stated that the victims’ bodies were being transported to Civil Hospital Mithi.
The bodies of all nine victims were subsequently dispatched to their respective ancestral villages for burial.
Nine victims killed, including three women
The explosion claimed the lives of six men and three women, according to the details provided by local authorities and rescue officials.
The deceased victims include:
- Pradeep Bheel, 25
- Pandi Rajar, 54
- Dino Meghwar, 45
- Muhammad Ishaq Thebo, 40
- Lachhman Meghwar, 35
- Jaswant Meghwar, 30
- Kariman, 65
- Lado, 40
- Raju, 40
Five people sustained serious injuries in the explosion and ensuing fire. The injured include women and a newborn baby, whose condition was reported to be critical.
The newborn was shifted to Mithi Hospital, where treatment is underway. The other injured people were moved to Karachi after receiving initial medical assistance, according to the Tharparkar SSP.
The incident has raised concerns about safety arrangements during the transportation of patients in ambulances, particularly the handling and use of oxygen cylinders during medical emergencies.
Specialist teams summoned to investigate
The Tharparkar SSP said preliminary reports indicated that the explosion was caused by an oxygen cylinder bursting inside the ambulance. However, the precise cause and circumstances of the incident remain subject to investigation.
According to an official spokesperson, expert teams from Mirpurkhas and Karachi have been summoned to conduct a detailed examination of the evidence and determine how the explosion occurred.
The investigation is expected to help establish the circumstances surrounding the cylinder rupture and the subsequent fire.
Sindh minister seeks detailed report
Sindh Minister for Home and Law Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar took notice of the ambulance explosion and sought a detailed report from the SSP and Deputy Commissioner of Tharparkar.
The minister directed the relevant authorities to ensure immediate medical assistance and timely treatment for all injured victims. He also expressed heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
President Zardari expresses grief
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the loss of nine precious human lives in the Tharparkar ambulance explosion.
He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident.
The president also called for stronger safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future, underscoring the need to improve safeguards against accidents involving medical equipment and patient transportation.
The investigation into the Dano Dhandhal incident is expected to determine the exact cause of the explosion and establish the circumstances that led to the deaths and injuries.
