The death toll from a devastating ambulance fire at a rural health centre in Sindh’s Tharparkar district has risen to nine, according to the Sindh Chief Minister’s House.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:40pm on Wednesday at the Rural Health Centre in Dano Dandal village, Nagarparkar tehsil, when a suspected gas cylinder explosion sparked a fire as medical staff were transferring a patient into an ambulance.
Initial reports confirmed seven fatalities and five injuries, but authorities subsequently revised the death toll to nine.
Rescue 1122 official Habibullah said emergency teams, local authorities and Nagarparkar Assistant Commissioner Iram Karim reached the scene shortly after the incident was reported.
The injured, reportedly including healthcare workers assisting with the patient transfer, were taken to hospitals in Mithi and Nagarparkar for treatment.
The ambulance, operated by the Pakistan People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI), was completely destroyed in the blaze. The organisation also manages the rural health centre where the incident occurred.
Authorities are working to establish the identities of those killed and determine the precise cause of the suspected explosion.
An investigation into the incident is underway.