From Dawn · Mohammad Hussain Khan | Imtiaz Dharani · · 3m
Ambulance Fire in Thar Kills Nine
Nine die in Thar ambulance fire as officials order safety reviews.
In brief
Nine die in Thar ambulance fire as officials order safety reviews. Nine people died in an ambulance fire in Sindh's Tharparkar district on October 28, 2026, prompting compensation and safety investigations. Originally reported by Dawn.
Ambulance Fire in Tharparkar
The death toll from an ambulance fire in Sindh’s Tharparkar rose to nine on Thursday, according to Mithi Deputy Commissioner Hameed Jagirani.
Incident Details
The fire occurred on Wednesday night when an oxygen cylinder exploded in an ambulance at a Peoples Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI)-run hospital in the Dano Dhandhal area of Nagarparkar taluka.
Patient Transfer
The woman had given birth to a baby boy at a basic health unit and was being shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Mithi due to post-surgical complications when the incident occurred.
Deceased Includes Staff
PPHI District Manager Ibrahim Kumbhar said the deceased also included some staff members of the health facility.
Presidential Response
President Asif Ali Zardari has ordered a transparent inquiry to determine the cause of the fire.
Presidential Directive
A statement issued by the Presidency said he had also directed the authorities to strengthen safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
President's Condolences
The president expressed grief over the loss of life and extended his condolences to the bereaved families, while wishing the injured a speedy recovery, the statement added.
Sindh CM's Compensation
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday announced compensation of Rs2 million each for the families of the nine people killed in the incident.
CM's Medical Directive
CM Murad also directed the authorities to ensure that the injured were provided with the best possible medical facilities.
CM's Inquiry Order
He also ordered a transparent inquiry into the incident and directed PPP MPA Qasim Soomro to travel to Nagarparkar to oversee relief efforts.
PPP Chairman's Response
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also took notice of the incident and called for a thorough and transparent investigation to establish the facts.
PPP Chairman's Solidarity
Describing the loss of life as deeply distressing, he expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and prayed for the early recovery of the injured.
PPP Chairman's Call for Punishment
The PPP chairman said those responsible should face the strictest punishment if the incident was found to have resulted from human negligence or a criminal act.
PPP Chairman's Prevention Measures
He also called for a review of existing arrangements and the adoption of effective measures to prevent similar incidents in Tharparkar.
What matters most
Nine people died in an ambulance fire in Sindh's Tharparkar district on October 28, 2026, prompting compensation and safety investigations.
