Tharparkar ambulance fire death toll rises to nine

The death toll from a fire involving an ambulance at a rural health centre in Sindh’s Tharparkar district has risen to

THARPARKAR:The death toll from a fire involving an ambulance at a rural health centre in Sindh’s Tharparkar district has risen to nine, while several others were injured in the incident, according to the Sindh Chief Minister’s House.

The incident occurred at around 10:40pm on Wednesday at a rural health centre in Dano Dandal village, located in Nagarparkar tehsil. A suspected cylinder explosion reportedly triggered the fire while health workers were transferring a patient into an ambulance.

Rescue 1122 official Habibullah said emergency teams, local officials and Nagarparkar Assistant Commissioner Iram Karim reached the scene after receiving information about the incident. The injured were shifted to hospitals in Mithi and Nagarparkar for medical treatment.

Some of the injured were reportedly health centre staff who had been assisting with the patient’s transfer. Authorities were working to establish the identities of the deceased and determine the exact cause of the explosion.

The ambulance, which belonged to the Pakistan People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative, was completely destroyed in the fire. The rural health centre is also operated by the same organisation.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the incident, which was initially reported as an oxygen cylinder explosion.

In a statement shared on X, the president extended condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the swift recovery of those injured. He called for a transparent investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

Zardari also stressed the need to strengthen safety arrangements to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also expressed grief over the deaths and conveyed his sympathies to the affected families. He prayed for the recovery of the injured and called for a comprehensive and impartial investigation.

Bilawal said the authorities must establish the facts and ensure accountability if the incident was found to have resulted from negligence or a criminal act. He called for strict action against anyone found responsible.

The PPP chairman also urged the authorities to review the existing healthcare and safety arrangements in Tharparkar and introduce effective measures to prevent such tragedies.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced financial compensation of Rs2 million for the family of each person killed in the incident.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s House, Shah directed the authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for all injured individuals.

He also instructed the provincial chief secretary to arrange a transparent inquiry through the Health Department and submit a detailed report on the incident.

The chief minister directed the relevant authorities to make arrangements for the last rites of the deceased. He also instructed Sindh Assembly member Qasim Soomro to reach Nagarparkar and supervise relief efforts and administrative arrangements.

Shah expressed profound sorrow over the loss of lives and extended his heartfelt condolences to the grieving families.

Authorities are expected to establish the precise cause of the incident through the investigation, including whether a cylinder explosion or other safety-related factors led to the deadly fire.