Karachi: At least sixteen people were killed and 35 injured in a powerful blast that ripped through Rami Club building near Ghaas Mandi area in Lyari on Thursday night.Police and emergency services rushed to the blast site and started rescue operation. Death toll is feared to rise further. Bomb disposal squad was also called in.The rescue sources have put the death toll at sixteen and the injured at 35 in the explosion.Most of the injured have been shifted to Civil Hospital where emergency has been declared, said hospital sources.One of the injured was rushed to Jinnah Hospital.Over 10 injured people were said to be in critical condition.The Medico Legal Officer (MLO) at Civil Hospital said that more than 16 dead bodies were brought in besides more than 35 injured.
They were trying to ascertain the nature of the blast. No dead or injured person was identified till the filling of the report.Police and Rangers baton charged the crowd to disperse them to facilitate rescue activities.Tension prevailed in area after the blast. Edhi and Chippa rescue workers said some thirty-five injured had been rushed to Jinnah and Civil Hospitals. Sixteen died of injuries before reaching the hospital. Officials said the blast, which occurred outside a gambling club, may have caused by a hand grenade used in a clash between some criminal groups.Law enforcement agencies cordoned off the blast area.Earlier reports said that a hand grenade was hurled at a gambling club in Ghaas Mandi (Lyari).Meanwhile, two people were killed in firing incidents in SITE and Orangi Town areas on Thursday. Police told the media that a political worker, Mirza Noman, was killed by unknown gunmen’s firing in the Rizwan Society, Gulistan-e-Jauhar.A 55 year old, milk shop owner Akhtar Hussain was critically injured by unidentified people in the Surjani Town’s sector 7 D and was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment but could not survive. He leaves behind 6 children. – Pakobserver
