On 18 December 2021, an explosion at a bank branch in the Sher Shah area of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, killed 17 people and injured at least 16 others.
 | |
| Date | 18 December 2021 |
|---|---|
| Location | Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Cause | Gas leak |
| Deaths | 17 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 16 |
Explosion
A gas leak exploded near Paracha Chowk in the Sher Shah area of Karachi, killing 14 people and injuring several others, including the father of Alamgir Khan, a member of the National Assembly. The blast destroyed a private bank building on the drain, damaged vehicles, and according to an initial report from the bomb disposal squad, the blast was caused by a gas leak in the sewer line.[1][2][3]
Murtaza Wahab, the administrator of Karachi issued a statement on Twitter that initially 15 people had died and 16 were injured and brought to hospital.[4] Senior policeman Sarfaraz Nawaz Shaikh confirmed that 16 people had been injured. The number of people dead was later raised to 17 after 5 of the victims died in the hospital.[5]
Response
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has directed the Commissioner of Karachi, including police officers to conduct an inquiry.
Habib Bank, which was affected by the blast, issued a statement on Twitter offering its sympathies to the families of the victims.[4]