Panic gripped local residents when a sewerage line located at New Anarkali Area near the Punjab University Old Campus exploded due to excessive gaseous pressure on Friday noon. According to details, covers of two main holes located near gate no 3 of the PU went off as a result of excessive gas pressure accumulated in the main sewerage line. Resultantly, two low-intensity explosions were heard, which caused panic among people, who thought that the explosions were result of any bomb blast.
Three people were injured due to the panic created. Some local residents informed rescue and police officials about the blasts, after which heavy contingent of police under supervision of DIG Operations Ghulam Mehmood Dogar reached the spot. Police immediately cordoned off the area and called the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS), which searched the area and declared it safe. Rescue officials provided treatment to the injured.
Riaz Shah, an official of BDS, told Pakistan Today that the low-intensity explosions were not result of any explosive material. He said that drain line located at the spot was fully covered due to which remission of gases was not available. The official said that as a result gas pressure accumulated in the drain line due to which two covers of main holes went off while three covers of main holes were forced to blow up.
Local residents said that they got worried when smoke started coming out from the gutters. They said that panic gripped the area, as people initially thought that the explosions were due to planted explosive material. DIG Operations Ghulam Mehmood Dogar, explaining the reason behind the explosion, said that although these blasts were not result of any terrorist activity but police tightened security at and around important installations of the city.
