Cargo Plane Crash in Karachi: 11 People killed

At least eleven people were killed when a Russian-made cargo plane crashed in a fireball seconds after taking off from Karachi on Sunday, Geo News reported Sunday.

The death toll was expected to rise, with an unknown number of labourers feared killed when the Ilyushin IL-76, bound for the Sudanese capital Khartoum, slammed into buildings in the city.

"All eight people on board have died, we fear that some labourers on the ground have also been killed," CAA spokesman said. "We do not know the exact number of those killed on ground," he added.

Bodies of three labourers working on the construction site have also been recovered from the debris taking the toll to eleven, rescue authorities said.

Authorities said they had brought the fire under control but rescue workers were still searching for bodies.

"Recovered bodies are badly mutilated and beyond recognition," he said.

The plane slammed into buildings under construction in the Dalmia neighbourhood.

"Rescue workers are still searching whether there are any other bodies or injured people in the debris," a police official said.

It was the third plane accident in four months in Pakistan, a country of 170 million people where inter-city travel is most efficient by air, and the second aircraft to crash after take off from Karachi in just four weeks.

The CAA spokesman said that the jet took off from Karachi at 1:45 am (20:45 GMT Saturday) and crashed just one and a half minutes later.

Witnesses spoke of their horror at seeing a fireball racing through the night sky.

"I saw a fireball plummeting to ground," a milk seller said. He had been going home on his motorbike after closing his shop.

"It was so huge and quick. I was terrified."

"I couldn't see what it was. I sped up to save my life and after a few seconds I heard a deafening explosion, but thanks to Allah my life was saved and I was not injured."

The crash sparked fires in four or five construction sites, but officials said the number of casualties would have been far higher if the plane had struck nearby residential buildings.

Residents in nearby buildings spent the night with relatives, he added.

The US-manufactured Beech 1900C aircraft operated by local company was carrying staff from an Italian oil company to an oil field in the southern province of Sindh.

On July 28, an Airbus 321 passenger jet operated by Airblue crashed into hills near Islamabad while coming in to land after a flight from Karachi, killing 152 people on board. (TN)

CITY GOVT-TOWNS DISPOSE OF 760,000 OFFAL IN TWO DAYS. Administrator Karachi extend Eid-Operation for a day.

Administrator Karachi Fazlur Rehman has extended the Eid-ul-Azha operation for a day by declaring the fourth day of Eid as cleanliness day.

He has directed all concerned departments of City Government and town municipal administrations to carry on ongoing Eid-ul-Azha operation till fourth day of Eid and continue cleaning work on Saturday.

Administrator Fazlur Rehman paid detailed visit of 18 towns of city during three day of Eid to personally check and review the situation.

On this occasion he said that the city government and towns have disposed of over 7,60,000 offal in the first two days of Eid. The offal and waste were buried in the trenches dug up by towns in different areas of city.

He said that the city government and towns have put up joint efforts to ensure better arrangements for lifting and disposal of offal and waste of sacrificial animals on this Eid.

He said that the Eid operation has been extended for a day so that the solid waste management department could pay special attention on its work and improve the cleanliness condition in the city.

Administrator Fazlur Rehman said that the fumigation campaign was also initiated on Friday. The initial phase 30 major roads and corridors have been selected for insecticide and germicide spray. The spray work will be completed inside the city on Saturday and Sunday.

He said that the patronage and monitoring of Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan played important role in the overall success of Eid operation.

Administrator Fazlur Rehman also thanked the cooperation and support of elected representatives of city specially MNAs, MPAs and citizens of Karachi.

83 more dengue patients admitted

Eighty-three more patients with symptoms of dengue and high fever were admitted in various hospitals of Sindh as the number of hospitalized dengue patients rose to 267 during last 24 hours.
According to the report issued from Dengue Surveillance Cell, 4704 patients of high fever and dengue symptoms were admitted in various hospitals of Sindh and of them 2899 were found dengue positive.

MQM CHIEF PAYS RICH TRIBUTES TO DR IMRAN FAROOQ

Mr. Altaf Hussain, Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has said that the sacrifices made by the MQM Convenor Dr. Imran Farooq for the movement would always be remembered. Mr. Hussain was talking to the media after offering the funeral prayer of Dr. Imran Farooq Shaheed in London. Paying rich tributes to Dr. Imran Farooq he said, “He spent his entire life facing hardships, problems and difficult times. He always strived for the progress and prosperity of the movement; and even at the time when State functionaries were looking for him everywhere. However, despite all the hardships and in the face of trials and tribulations he remained steadfast. His sacrifices and struggles cannot be expressed in words. They have become a part of history.” Remembering Dr Imran Farooq, Mr. Hussain said that he sacrificed his life for the movement and proved true to his words.

Mr. Hussain prayed for the soul of the Dr. Imran Farooq. He said that he and his colleagues were satisfied with the investigation of Metropolitan Police and other investigating agencies. He hoped that the investigating agencies will find the murderers. He said that he was very grieved at not being able to attend the burial of Dr. Imran Farooq in Pakistan. “It cannot be expressed in words.”