5 killed as fire breaks out in ship at Gaddani
- January 10, 2017, 4:04 pm
- National News
- 214 Views
GADDANI Jan 9 (PPI): Five workers died and several went missing when a fire broke out at a ship anchored for dismantling at ship breaking yard here Monday.
Police arrested owner of ship and Chairman Ship Breakers Association Dewan Muhammad Rizwan Farooqi and plot contractor.
Gaddani is about 50 Km from Karachi along Balochistan Coast where old and unserviceable ships are brought for breaking to provide scrap and raw material for country’s economy. It is said to be second largest ship breaking industry in the world after Taiwan.
According to details work on a ship berthed at Plot No 60 for dismantling and over 50 workers were busy in the world. Suddenly a fire broke out. Workers and Municipal Committee Fire brigade immediately controlled the fire. At that time there was no report of any human loss.
After some while again there was noise of fire breaking out at the ship and flames were seen rising. Several workers who tried to run away in a bid to save their lives were caught by fire.
ASP Hub Police Zia Mandokhel that four dead bodies were recovered and these were shifted to Gaddani hospital.
Medical Officer BHU Shaikhabad Gaddani Dr Yunus Baloch told that two of the dead were identified. They hailed from Khyber Pahstoonkhwa.
There was no report of bringing outworkers stranded on the ship and there was apprehension of further deaths on the ship due to fire.
On the orders of Deputy Commissioner Lasbella Syed Zulfiqar Ai Shah Police arrest owner of the ship and Chairman Pakistan Ship Breakers Association Dewan Muhammad Rizwan and contractor of his Plot Haji Bakhti Rawan. Earlier Dewan Rizwan was also arrested in case of fire on the ship of December 22, 2016.
On Dec 22,2016 fire incident on the ship there was no human loss b ut earlier on Nov 1, 2016 fire incident at a ship at Plot 54 while cutting of the ship was underway had claimed 27 lives and over 50 were injured.
Incharge Chhipa Ambulance Sajid and volunteers of Edhi Trust took part in relief activities for search of workers.
