Lahore: Couple killed in geyser explosion

[Naveed Yaseen]

LAHORE: An elderly couple was burnt to death after a gas-powered water geyser exploded in Qila Gujjar Singh on Tuesday. According to details, the geyser exploded due to a gas leakage and engulfed the building in flames. The fire erupted on the third floor of the Kashmir Palace Hotel on Empress Road and spread despite the fire brigade’s efforts. The victims were identified as Muhammad Ibrahim, (54), and wife Nighat Ibrahim, (40). The fire broke out at 10am and Rescue 1122 , fire brigade and Edhi personnel promptly arrived at the site. After hectic efforts, the fire was extinguished and the victims were shifted to Mayo Hospital. The couple were pronounced dead at the hospital. Qila Gujjar Singh police said that according to the Bomb Disposal Squad the incident occurred due to a geyser blast and a final statement could only be issued after the bodies returned from autopsy. The victim’s son Ibrahim runs a travel agency and had received over Rs 7 million from various people for processing their cases for haj, however, the account balance revealed only Rs 425. The police said that the money might have been burnt in the fire. Police are treating the fire as “accidental.”

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg13_3