At least five persons including women were critically injured when a speedy auto-rickshaw overturned and its CNG cylinder exploded in Lahore city on Friday morning.
The police believe the explosion had something to do with the vehicle’s CNG cylinder. Motorcycles near the rickshaw were damaged in the fire and the rickshaw was completely destroyed.
Police said it was a high-intensity blast that also damaged other parked vehicles near the auto-rickshaw besides causing injuries.
According to hospital sources, the condition of the injured people were serious.
Heavy contingents of police and other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) cordoned off the area and started a search operation.
The bomb disposal squad has also been summoned on the scene to collect the samples of explosives for examining.
An eyewitness named Asghar said he was floored by the impact of the explosion. “There were people standing close to the rickshaw. The blast ripped the clothes off their bodies … their shoes were also on fire,” he said.
However, there has been no confirmation on the cause but a spokesperson for the Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department said a “terrorism angle” could not be ruled out at this stage.
This is a developing story.
