A gas cylinder explosion ripped through a residential building in North Nazimabad on Sunday, killing a teenage boy and injuring four others, rescue officials and police said.
The explosion occurred inside a 10th-floor apartment near the Hyderi commercial area, triggering a fire that spread to four flats on the same floor. The impact of the blast also damaged the roof of a ninth-floor apartment and affected the building’s elevator system.
Emergency response teams, including four fire tenders, a water bowser and snorkel units, were dispatched to the scene. Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control. Electricity to the building was disconnected as a precautionary measure.
Rescue officials confirmed that all residents were evacuated safely from the building. However, a teenage boy was pulled from the debris and later pronounced dead. Four injured individuals, including a woman and a young girl, were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities said three of the injured were in critical condition.
Police officials reached the scene and began an investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion. Initial reports suggest a gas leak may have triggered the blast.
Authorities are assessing the structural condition of the building and collecting evidence as part of the ongoing inquiry.