At least nine individuals, including five children, lost their lives in the Kandhkot region of Kashmore district following a rocket explosion on Wednesday.

The incident occurred inside a residential area, and an investigation is currently underway, according to Senior Superintendent of Police Rohail Khoso of District Kashmore, who spoke with a private news agency. He also mentioned that one person sustained injuries as a result of the explosion.

Law enforcement authorities cordoned off the area where the incident occurred, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Goghat police station in Kandhkot. Additionally, a state of emergency was declared at the district hospital.

The explosion happened at approximately 9:00 am in the village of Badal Sabzoi, Union Council Malheer, within the Kandhkot taluka, according to the district administration.

Officials from the district's health department reported that the Rapid Response team arrived at the scene and transported the victims to the local taluka hospital.

The health officials also noted that ten individuals were taken to the healthcare facility. The injured individual, identified as 40-year-old Shaista, the wife of Shah Ali, was discharged following medical treatment.

Upon learning about the explosion in the remote Sindh village, the provincial Caretaker Chief Minister, Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqir, instructed the provincial police to initiate an investigation. He also questioned why a rocket was present in the village.

Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has also called for a government inquiry into the explosion, which claimed the lives of innocent villagers. He expressed his concern about the presence of criminal gangs in the katcha areas of Sindh and Punjab, urging the government to take action to rid the region of such elements.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 28 2023

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.