Haripur (April 16, 2026) — A massive fire erupted in a major gas supply line in the Hattar Industrial Estate on Thursday evening, leaving at least eight people dead and 11 others injured. The blaze, which could be seen from kilometers away, impacted several residential quarters and factories in the vicinity.
Incident Details
- 8 fatalities, including children; 11 people injured.
- Near 400 residential quarters in the Hattar Industrial Estate, Haripur.
- A 16-inch diameter SNGPL pipeline supplying gas up to Abbottabad.
- A joint three-hour operation by Rescue 1122, SNGPL teams, and the fire brigade.
JUST IN🇵🇰🔥 A large fire has erupted in the Hattar Industrial Area in Gas Pipeline of Haripur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/Q6cKHAhE3s
— RKM (@rkmtimes) April 16, 2026
Explosion and rescue efforts
Residents reported a sudden “gas explosion” around 6:30 PM, followed by a towering inferno. According to Haripur Deputy Commissioner Waseem Ahmed, most of the deaths were caused by suffocation as the fire engulfed structures within a 200-meter radius. Rescue personnel faced significant challenges due to the high volume of residual gas in the 16-inch line, which continued to feed the flames for over two hours even after the main supply was cut off.
Impact on the Industrial Estate
SNGPL official Muhammad Amir noted that the pipeline is located near industrial godowns that often store chemical materials. While the exact cause of the burst is under investigation, officials are looking into whether a chemical leakage or a sudden surge in gas pressure triggered the disaster.
Current Status
District Police Officer (DPO) Shafiullah Khan confirmed that the fire has been extinguished and a search operation has been completed to ensure no one remains trapped. Survivors were shifted to the Haripur District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital and the Kot Najibullah Rural Health Center. Authorities have launched a formal inquiry to determine if technical failure or external factors led to the breach.
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