Pakistan factory blast toll rises to 11

Phoenix Herald (IANS) Monday 6th February, 2012

At least 11 factory workers, most of them women, were killed when a three-storeyed building collapsed due to a factory blast in Pakistan's Lahore city, said rescue teams and health officials.

The rescue team's spokesperson Karamat Ali said most parts of the factory caved in when nearly 60 workers were inside the building, Xinhua reported.

The teams and local residents pulled out 11 bodies and nine injured from the rubble after several hours, said Ali.

Located on Lahore's Multan road, the factory manufactured veterinary medicines.

Earlier reports said around 50 people were trapped in the collapsed building.

Later, there were contradictory reports about the nature of the blast. Rescue teams said a gas cylinder or a boiler may have caused the explosion.

Police have arrested the factory manager over the incident.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has ordered an inquiry into the incident.