Two female college students died and 19 others were injured on Wednesday after a gas cylinder exploded in a college van in the Liaquatpur area, according to News.
The van was carrying students from three private colleges back home when the LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinder inside exploded.
19-year-old Tayyaba Abbas and 17-year-old Ujala were seriously injured and later died in the hospital. Four other students are in critical condition and are being treated at the Burn Unit of Nishtar Hospital in Multan.
Rescue teams quickly arrived at the scene and took the injured students to the hospital.
Police Treating Case as Terrorism
Police have registered a case under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act at Saddar Police Station. The case has been filed against the principals of the three colleges, the van owner, the driver, and other college staff.
According to the FIR (First Information Report), the accused chose a poorly maintained van that used a gas cylinder to save money, which put students’ lives in danger. Police are now searching for and trying to arrest the people involved.
Similar Past Incidents in Pakistan
This is not the first tragic incident involving gas cylinder blasts or collapsing houses:
- June 7 – A gas explosion in Irum Colony, Mardan caused the roof of a house to collapse, killing six family members, including a husband, wife, and four others. Two more were injured.
- In another case, eight people from one family were injured when the roof of an old house collapsed in Chak No. 271-RB, near the Dijkot police station. The injured included parents, their five children, and a guest.
These incidents highlight the dangers of using unsafe equipment and living in poorly maintained buildings, raising serious concerns about safety measures and negligence in such cases.
Read more: 16 Soldiers Killed in Suicide Attack in Pakistan’s North Waziristan; Children Among the Injured
