KANDHKOT, Pakistan: The death toll in the tragic rocket explosion in Sindh’s Kandhkot district early Wednesday rose to nine as one more person succumbed to his injuries.
The incident occurred in a house located in the Ghora Ghat of the kacha (riverine) area, as confirmed by Kandhkot Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rohail Khoso.
Preliminary investigations suggested that children found the rocket launcher on agricultural land, subsequently bringing it home, where the device tragically exploded.
Upon receiving reports of the incident, rescue personnel promptly transported the deceased and injured to the hospital. An official investigation into the matter is currently underway.
In response to the incident, Sindh caretaker Chief Minister Maqbool Baqar expressed his concern and requested a detailed report from Inspector-General (IG) Dr. Riffat Mukhtar. The interim CM raised questions about how the rocket launcher ended up in the village and whether there were any attempts to smuggle a weapons stockpile into the kutcha areas. He also inquired about the presence of any individuals aiding criminals in the village, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive report on the matter.
According to SSP Kashmore district, Rohail Khoso, the rocket shell was found within the affected house, and it appears that children inadvertently placed it in a stove, triggering the deadly blast. In response to the incident, law enforcement authorities cordoned off the village and initiated a search operation to assess the situation thoroughly.
However, the tragic incident was further marred by the absence of doctors in the local medical facility, leading to protests by family members of both the deceased and the injured outside the hospital.
Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh, Maqbool Baqar, promptly took notice of the rocket launcher blast and called for a detailed report from the Inspector General of Police. Justice Baqar raised important questions about the incident, including how the rocket shell had reached Sabzoi Goth and whether there was an arms consignment being smuggled in the katcha area.
He also questioned the potential presence of facilitators aiding bandits in the village, demanding clarity on the circumstances that led to the rocket’s explosion and the loss of several lives. The CM’s directive emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation.
The tragic incident in Kandhkot comes against the backdrop of rising concerns over lawlessness in the katcha areas along the Indus River in upper Sindh districts. The Sindh government has decided to launch a law enforcement operation in these riverine forests to combat bandit gangs and other criminal elements responsible for rampant crimes, including kidnappings for ransom, in the region.
Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar previously approved a joint operation by the Pakistan Army and Sindh Rangers to address this issue in Sukkur and Larkana divisions.
The rocket explosion underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in curbing criminal activities in such areas and highlights the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect the lives and property of the local population.
