Tharparkar ambulance blast: oxygen cylinder fire kills at least 9 at Nagarparkar health unit
An oxygen cylinder exploded inside a parked PPHI ambulance at a rural health centre in Nagarparkar, Tharparkar, late on Wednesday, killing at least nine people including health workers and a pregnant patient, and prompting a Sindh government inquiry.
At a glance
- An oxygen cylinder exploded while staff were changing it inside a parked ambulance at a Basic Health Unit (BHU) Plus in Dano Dandhal village, Nagarparkar, Tharparkar, at about 10:40 pm on Wednesday, October 28.
- At least nine people have died after injured victims died overnight and on Thursday morning; some local counts put the toll at 10. The dead include the ambulance driver, a watchman, a dispenser, attendants and a pregnant woman who was inside the vehicle.
- The injured, including two midwives and a female attendant, were taken to Civil Hospital Mithi and later moved to Karachi and Hyderabad for treatment.
- Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah ordered an inquiry, Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar sought a report from police, and President Asif Ali Zardari called for a transparent probe and better safety rules.
At least nine people have died after an oxygen cylinder exploded inside a parked ambulance at a rural health centre in Nagarparkar, in Sindh's Tharparkar district, late on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The blast happened while staff were changing the vehicle's oxygen cylinder with a pregnant patient still inside, and the fire that followed engulfed the ambulance and people standing beside it. The Sindh government has ordered an inquiry.
What happened
The explosion took place at about 10:40 pm at a Basic Health Unit (BHU) Plus in Dano Dandhal village, Nagarparkar tehsil, near Pakistan's border with India. The ambulance belonged to the People's Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI), the body that runs many of Sindh's rural health units.
According to the hospital administration, a pregnant woman was being prepared for transfer and was already inside the ambulance when staff began fitting a fresh oxygen cylinder. The cylinder exploded during the change-over and the vehicle caught fire. Nagarparkar's assistant commissioner, Erum Karim Narejo, said the ambulance was parked at the facility when the blast occurred.
Seven people were confirmed dead on Wednesday night. The toll rose on Thursday morning as injured victims died — one while being moved to Hyderabad and others in hospital — taking it to at least nine. Some local counts put it at 10. Rescue officials named those killed as including the ambulance driver Pandhi Rajarr, watchman Ishaq Thebo and dispenser Dino Mul, along with attendants and the pregnant patient.
| Tharparkar ambulance blast | Details |
|---|---|
| Date and time | Wednesday, October 28, 2026, about 10:40 pm PKT |
| Place | BHU Plus, Dano Dandhal village, Nagarparkar, Tharparkar, Sindh |
| Vehicle | PPHI ambulance, parked at the health unit |
| Suspected cause | Oxygen cylinder exploded while being replaced |
| Deaths | At least 9 (some counts 10) |
| Dead include | Driver, watchman, dispenser, other staff, attendants, a pregnant woman |
| Injured | Two midwives and a female attendant among those hurt |
| Treatment | Civil Hospital Mithi, then Karachi and Hyderabad |
Police said two midwives and a female attendant from the health centre were among the injured. They were first taken to Civil Hospital Mithi, the district headquarters hospital, and then shifted to Karachi after first aid, the Tharparkar senior superintendent of police said.
Investigation
A provincial government spokesperson said initial findings point to an oxygen cylinder explosion inside the ambulance, but the exact cause has not been confirmed. Expert teams from Mirpurkhas and Karachi have been called to examine the vehicle and the cylinder. Police are also investigating, and district administration, rescue and health department teams were at the site through the night.
Investigators are expected to look at how the cylinder was stored and filled, whether it was certified, and how the change-over was carried out. Medical oxygen cylinders are kept under high pressure; damaged valves, oil or grease on fittings, or a nearby spark can cause a sudden fire.
Reactions
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah ordered an investigation into the blast. Sindh Home and Law Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar sought details from the Tharparkar SSP and deputy commissioner, directed that the injured get immediate treatment and offered condolences to the families.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief over the deaths and called for a transparent investigation and stronger safety measures in health facilities, according to an official statement.
Background
Tharparkar is one of Pakistan's poorest districts, a desert region where long distances and poor roads make ambulances a lifeline for pregnant women and sick children. Health units in villages such as Dano Dandhal often have to refer serious cases to Mithi, Hyderabad or Karachi, journeys of several hours.
The PPHI, a public-private body funded by the Sindh government, manages hundreds of basic health units across the province. Its ambulances carry oxygen cylinders for patients during long transfers. Safety in Pakistani hospitals has been under scrutiny this year after several fires, including one at a major Islamabad hospital in August.
Why it matters
Most of those who died were the health workers and attendants who keep rural care running in a district with few doctors. The loss of staff and an ambulance will put further strain on maternal care in Nagarparkar. The case also raises questions about how oxygen cylinders are handled in health facilities across Sindh, where many units lack trained technicians.
What happens next
The expert teams from Mirpurkhas and Karachi are due to report their findings to the Sindh government, which ordered the inquiry. Police are still identifying all of the dead and recording statements from staff at the health unit. GlobeHourly will update this report as the official death toll and inquiry findings are confirmed.
Questions people are asking
What happened in the Tharparkar ambulance blast?
On the night of October 28, 2026, an oxygen cylinder exploded while health staff were replacing it inside a parked ambulance at a rural health unit in Nagarparkar, Tharparkar, Sindh. The blast set the ambulance on fire, killing at least nine people.
How many people died in the Tharparkar ambulance fire?
At least nine people had died by Thursday morning, October 29, as several injured victims died during treatment or transfer; some local counts put the toll at 10. Several others, including two midwives, were being treated in Karachi.
Who runs the ambulance that exploded in Tharparkar?
The ambulance belonged to the People's Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI), which runs many basic health units in rural Sindh on behalf of the provincial government. Expert teams from Mirpurkhas and Karachi are examining the vehicle and cylinder.
