At least 130 missing, feared dead in Gaddani tragedy: Report
Shahzeb Jillani says facts about the tragedy have not yet come forward, its bigger than it seems
KARACHI: (Dunya News) – It is being said by the government that the toll in Gaddani ship fire tragedy was about 20 labourers but the reports now are that there were at least 130 missing and they all were feared dead, reported Dunya News.
Talking on Aaj Kamran Khan Kay Saath on Dunya News, Shahzeb Jillani said that the oil sludge hadn’t been wiped off when the cutters were used, causing spark and thus fire. “There is an oil sludge, which you may call the mud of oil, that must be wiped off before the cutters being used on the iron as these cutters cause spark. That caused the fire and thus the deaths”, he said.
Jillani said that the workers were being forced by the businessmen to finish off the work as quickly as possible due to which the tragedy took place. He added that the chairman of ship breaking association was under arrest and several other big businessmen were also in the custody.
“We received the reports from the workers that at least 130 people were missing and they were all feared dead”, said Kamran Khan. He added that several people jumped off the ship when the container caught fire but the actual number could not be confirmed as the fire had not been under control as yet.
Jillani said that these people were missing and there were hardly any chances of their details ever coming to light since there was no record about them available with anyone.
Earlier, Balochistan CM had claimed that the rumours of over 100 people dead were baseless.
See here: Rumour about 100 missing labourers in Gaddani tragedy baseless: Zehri
Holding a press conference in Hub, Balochistan CM said that the provincial government had suspended the officials of the relevant departments in the tragic incident that caused deaths of several labourers as the container caught fire.
He further told that 17 labourers had died while 50 were injured. He added that the rumour of 100 labourers missing in the incident were baseless.
On the other hand, Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Mir Hasil Khan Bezinjo told the media that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had directed across the board accountability in the case whether those involved were government officials or businessmen.
Moreover, the fire on Gaddani ship could not be controlled even on the third day. Ship Breaking Association Chairman and the oil tanker owner have been taken into custody.
