POONCH: Six daily-wage labourers from Surankote in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir were critically injured in a devastating gas cylinder blast at their rented accommodation in Punjab, triggering an urgent appeal for financial and medical assistance for the affected families.
The victims, all inhabitants of Sanglani village in Surankote tehsil, had migrated to Punjab in search of livelihood to support their families. The incident occurred at their rented room in Jakhwali Pind while the labourers were preparing a meal, when a gas cylinder suddenly exploded, leaving all six with severe burn and blast injuries.
The injured have been identified as Abdul Wahid, Rafiq Ahmed, Farzhad Ahmed, Ikhtiaz Ahmed, Abdul Rashid and Nazakat Hussain. They were rushed to Rajendra Hospital in Patiala, where they are currently undergoing intensive treatment. Hospital sources said their condition remains critical and a matter of grave concern.
Zahid Parwaz Choudhary, State President of the Jammu and Kashmir Gujjar Bakerwal Youth Welfare Conference, while talking to the news agency Kashmir News Trust, highlighted the dire socio-economic condition of the injured labourers and their families.
He said the mishap occurred a couple of days ago and was not reported anywhere. “All six belong to impoverished backgrounds and were the sole breadwinners of their households,” he said, adding that the families have no stable source of income or savings and are now struggling to cope with the rising costs of specialised medical treatment and prolonged care.
JKGBYWC issued an urgent appeal to the government to provide immediate financial relief, medical assistance and logistical support to the injured labourers and their families. They also sought intervention to ensure proper treatment without delay. [KNT]