16 people killed, several injured in Soldier Bazar cylinder blast

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Feb, 2026) Sixteen people, including four children and six women, were killed and 14 others injured as a cylinder explosion occurred in a three-storey residential building here in Soldier Bazaar area of the city late Wednesday night.

The officials said the blast occurred on the first floor, causing part of the building to collapse, and that all available resources were being used in the search operation.

DIG East Farrukh Lanjar said the initial information suggested the explosion was due to a gas leak but the true nature of the explosion could only be determined after a chemical examination.

He said the incident would be investigated.

Rescue teams launched a search operation and pulled several people from the rubble. A 10-year-old girl, identified as Nazia, and a 60-year-old man, Mohammad Riaz, were among those killed. Rescue officials said the bodies of three young girls aged 17, 18 and 19 years were recovered from the rubble.