HARIPUR: Eight people died when a terrible fire broke out after a powerful explosion in the main gas pipeline in Hattar Industrial Estate, which engulfed the entire area in an instant.
According to initial reports, eight people, including women and children, have died due to burns, while reports of several people being injured are also being received.
According to rescue sources, the fire was so intense that it became extremely difficult to control. The fire has also engulfed the motorcycles of the workers inside the factory, the houses of the nearby population, and livestock, causing massive financial losses. The district administration and rescue teams have reached the spot, and the area has been sealed, while the nearby population is being immediately shifted to safe places to avoid further loss of life.
As soon as the fire was reported, Rescue 1122 firefighter teams and rescue teams immediately reached the scene and are making full efforts to control the fire. According to eyewitnesses, the gas leak was so intense that the flames started rising as soon as they saw it, causing severe panic in the industrial zone.
Rescue officials say that the priority is to prevent the fire from spreading further and to make nearby industrial units safe, while the surrounding area has been evacuated to avoid any possible loss of life.
Hattar Industrial Estate (HIE) is located in Haripur district and is one of the major industrial hubs of Pakistan. It is home to hundreds of factories, including ghee, chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, and steel re-rolling mills. Most of these industries rely on the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) network for energy.
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