At least five dead, 20 injured in Karachi's Gulshan-i-Iqbal blast

At least five people died and 20 others were injured in a blast that occurred near Karachi’s Maskan Chowrangi, Gulshan-i-Iqbal area on Wednesday morning.

Law enforcement agencies and rescue officials have reached the site and have cordoned off the area. The blast is suspected to have happened inside a building. The building had a bank and businesses while residential apartments were located on top. One section of the apartments which are opposite to the Karachi University gate has collapsed. Officials fear that people might be stuck beneath the rubble.

Due to the blast windows of nearby buildings as well as some vehicles were also damaged. The nature of the blast has not yet been ascertained.

However, police said that it was a gas or cylinder explosion, adding that the bomb disposal squad is arriving to verify the cause of the explosion.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the incident and has sought a detailed report in this regard from the Karachi commissioner.

On Tuesday, five people were wounded when a bomb exploded at the entrance of a bus terminal near Sheerin Jinnah Colony.