Conflicting casualty counts after an ambulance explosion in Pakistan’s Sindh province left the toll disputed, as Dawn reported Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah ordered an inquiry and compensation for nine families.
Mithi Deputy Commissioner Hameed Jagirani told Dawn that nine people had died. The Associated Press reported at least 10 deaths, citing police and hospital officials, while earlier reports from Dawn and The Express Tribune said seven people were killed and five suffered severe burns.
Dawn reported the ambulance was at a health facility run by the People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI) in Dano Dhandhal, Tharparkar district. The Express Tribune quoted Rescue 1122 official Habibullah as placing the incident at about 1:40 p.m. EDT (17:40 UTC) Oct. 28, as staff prepared to move a patient into the ambulance.
Jagirani told Dawn the woman had given birth to a boy at the facility and was being transferred to District Headquarters Hospital in Mithi after complications following surgery.
President Asif Ali Zardari called for officials to determine the cause and strengthen safety measures, according to an official statement carried by Radio Pakistan. Shah announced compensation of 2 million rupees for each of the nine victims’ families, Dawn reported.
Although reports described an oxygen-cylinder explosion, Geo News reported that officials had not confirmed the precise cause. The outlet said a provincial spokesperson had called in expert teams to examine the evidence.
