The first sehri of Ramadan a time when families wake before dawn to eat together and prepare for a day of fasting turned into a moment of unbearable grief in Karachi.
As homes across the city gathered in quiet devotion, tragedy struck in Soldier Bazaar, shattering the peace of the holy month’s very first morning.
A powerful gas cylinder explosion in Gul Rana Colony caused part of a residential building to collapse, leaving at least 16 people dead and 14 others injured. Children are among the victims, intensifying the heartbreak that has gripped the community.
According to rescue officials, the blast caused the roof and sections of the structure to cave in, trapping residents beneath the debris.
Rescue 1122, Urban Search and Rescue teams, along with volunteers from the Edhi Foundation and Chhipa Welfare Association, responded immediately and began pulling victims from the rubble. The search operation is still underway to ensure no one remains trapped.
Two more bodies were recovered from the debris, including a child and a woman. The woman has been identified as 44-year-old Zainab, while the child is 10-year-old Sajjad, bringing the total death toll to 16.
The injured were rushed to Civil Hospital Karachi, where emergency treatment is ongoing. Several victims are said to be in critical condition.
Initial police investigations suggest the explosion was triggered by a gas leak that ignited the cylinder. Authorities confirmed that two houses were affected the residence where the blast occurred and a neighboring rented property.
Eyewitnesses said the explosion was so intense that nearby buildings trembled, sending residents into panic in the early hours of the morning.
Police and emergency officials remain at the scene as investigations continue. Citizens have been urged to avoid the area to allow rescue operations to proceed smoothly.
What should have been a peaceful beginning to a sacred month has instead left families grieving, as the city begins Ramadan in sorrow.
