RAHIM YAR KHAN/TOBA TEK SINGH: The owner of an illegal petroleum agency and his son died while two others were injured when a fire erupted at the petroleum agency in Rajanpur Kalan.
The fire engulfed an oil tanker which was filling the empty drums kept in the room of the petroleum agency. The fire spread when an empty drum burst. Agency owner Muhammad Ismail, 40, and his younger son Younas Ismail, 8, of Mouza Qaiser Chohan died on the spot while the elder son of Ismial, Yousaf and cleaner of oil tanker Arif were burnt. The fire sparked in no time and spread in 12 neighboring shops.
The driver of oil tanker succeeded to take it away from the spot. Police shifted injured Arif to Rural Health Centre Rajanpur Kalan while Yousaf was shifted to Sheikh Zayed Medical College Hospital where he was in critical condition because his body was burnt 80 percent.
District Officer Civil Defence Raza Ali said that the petroleum agency was illegal and more than 500 illegal petroleum agencies are functional in the district. He said that the assistant commissioner and civil defence department were responsible to check the safety measures of these petroleum agencies. He said that he took the charge two months back and he registered 14 FIRs against illegal petroleum agencies but due to political influence all these petroleum agencies are working. SHOPS GUTTED: Due to electric short-circuit, a fire broke out in a shopping centre in Sadar Bazaar, Pirmahal in the wee hours of Wednesday, gutting many shops.
The fire was extinguished by Rescue 1122 staff which reached from Toba and TMA fire-brigade of Kamalia. The fire also collapsed the roof of the shop. The loss has been estimated up to Rs 20 million. ACCIDENT: A motorcyclist died while another was injured critically when a bus hit their bike near Chak 280 JB Duggal Kotli on Gojra-Faisalabad Road. Police said 20 years old Sajid and 16 years old Hafiz Omer were on way to Gojra when the accident took place. The injured was rushed to Gojra THQ Hospital.
Meanwhile, a woman and her four year old son Ihtisham were injured seriously when the roof of one of their rooms collapsed in Gaushala locality. Police said the roof was already in dilapidated condition. Rescue 1122 staff shifted both to DHQ Hospital.–Staff Reporter