What investigators found on the ground
A Sindh health department panel began work on Friday into a fatal oxygen cylinder explosion and fire on Oct 28 at the Rural Health Centre in Dano Dhandhal village, Nagarparkar taluka in Thar. The Thar ambulance blast tore through equipment linked to an ambulance oxygen cylinder, according to the department’s account of a reported explosion at the facility. The panel’s brief is to pin down how the blast happened, whether staff or managers failed in their duties, and who should be held responsible.
Director General Health Services Dr Aneesur Rehman Siddiqui heads the inquiry. Assistant Commissioner Umair Ashraf sits on it for the district administration. Members walked the damaged site, met grieving households, gathered physical material, and took oral accounts from residents and civic workers. Those who spoke criticised how the Peoples Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI) — the body that runs many primary clinics in Sindh — has performed locally.
Casualties, survivors, and conflicting counts
Community figures put fatalities at 10. A health department press note instead listed eight dead, three of them facility staff, and four people hurt. Officials have not yet closed that gap. The exact trigger for the cylinder failure is still under study.
Two midwives who survived — Sameena Junejo and Noor Jehan — saw the event but have not spoken to the committee. They were moved from Civil Hospital Mithi to Karachi. Medical Superintendent Dr Shahid Jhanjhi told reporters both are stable and no longer in life-threatening condition, and that transfers followed instructions for specialist review and further tests.
Suspensions and political response
PPHI Sindh directed that three local office-holders step aside: District Support Manager Soobdar Shahani, Executive Monitoring Officer Zaheer Hussain Babar, and Social Organiser Parkash Rathore. The health department said Mr Shahani’s removal from duty still needs further steps under service rules before it is final.
Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho offered condolences to families who lost relatives. She said the province would keep treating the injured and would pursue accountability if the inquiry confirms negligence or other failures.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Oct 28: An oxygen cylinder on an ambulance at the Dano Dhandhal Rural Health Centre explodes and sparks a fire; deaths and injuries are reported.
- After the blast: Local tallies cite 10 fatalities; a departmental statement cites eight deaths and four injuries.
- PPHI response: Three local officials are ordered suspended, with one case still pending formal completion under rules.
- Friday (probe day): The Siddiqui-led committee inspects the site, meets bereaved families, and records statements; the two injured midwives in Karachi are still to be interviewed.
- Ongoing: Minister Pechuho promises continued care and accountability once findings are in.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Thar ke Nagarparkar mein ek ambulance ke oxygen cylinder se dhamaka hua aur aag lagi. Kai log jaan se gaye, kuch zakhmi hain, aur do daaiyan abhi bayan nahi de sakin. Hukumat ne jaanch shuru kar di hai aur kuch afsaron ko mauqoof kiya gaya hai. Logon ke liye yeh matlab hai ke ilaqai clinic ki safety ab check ho rahi hai, lekin asal wajah abhi saaf nahi.
