Taftan, Pakistan – Web Desk: An explosion involving a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker in Pakistan’s border town of Taftan has killed one person and injured six others, including a local assistant commissioner, authorities said on Thursday.
According to officials, a parked LPG tanker caught fire near the Taftan Customs House in Balochistan’s Quetta district late at night. Rescue teams and district administration officials rushed to the scene, but the tanker exploded during firefighting operations, triggering panic among residents in nearby markets and residential areas.
Police and rescue sources said the blaze was likely caused by a gas leak or technical malfunction in the tanker. The explosion sent flames high into the air and damaged around a dozen nearby warehouses and structures, while the blast was heard from a considerable distance.
One person was killed in the incident, while Assistant Commissioner Naim Shahwani and five others sustained burn injuries and were shifted for medical treatment. Authorities said firefighting teams have brought the blaze under control by about 70 percent, but full extinguishing operations remain ongoing.
Initial investigations suggest negligence in gas transportation safety procedures or technical faults could have contributed to the incident, raising fresh concerns about hazardous material handling and safety standards in border regions.
