Pakistan, Oct 29: At least 10 people, including a patient, died after an oxygen cylinder exploded inside an ambulance parked at a government-run medical facility in southern Pakistan, police and hospital officials stated on Thursday.
District Police Chief Arif Aziz said the explosion occurred at night in the Tharparkar district of Sindh province. He noted that the victims included staff from the medical facility, patients, and their relatives.
Local police official Khalil Abro stated that patients were being transferred to another hospital when the explosion took place. Footage circulating on social media and television channels showed the vehicle engulfed in flames, with one of its doors standing open.
A statement from the office of Pakistan’s President, Asif Ali Zardari, expressed grief over the deaths and called for a prompt, transparent investigation to determine the cause.
The President urged authorities to strengthen safety measures to prevent similar incidents. He also extended his condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.