By Ali Imran Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: A powerful gas explosion in the basement canteen of the Supreme Court injured 12 people, including two in critical condition, on Tuesday morning.Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, while speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court, said the incident occurred at 10:55 a.m. during maintenance work on the air-conditioning gas system.He said that three injured persons were shifted to PIMS Hospital while nine were taken to Polyclinic Hospital for treatment.One AC technician has suffered up to 80% burns,” he added.The IGP Rizvi informed that gas leakage had reportedly been occurring in the canteen area for several days, and during repair work, accumulated gas ignited, causing the blast.He confirmed that explosive experts and bomb disposal teams inspected the site and ruled out sabotage, declaring it a gas explosion related to the AC gas system.“The technicians working on the plant sustained the most severe injuries,” the IGP Rizvi noted.Islamabad Police, Rescue 1122 and other authorities immediately responded, secured the premises, and assisted in shifting the injured to hospitals.Further investigations are underway to determine responsibility for any negligence.
