A 15-year-old boy on Saturday succumbed to burn injuries he had sustained after gas-filled balloons exploded near him on April 20 near Kamahan Road.
Navid and 35 other people had had to be carried to Jinnah Hospital when the balloons, released in the air to celebrate the inauguration of Walton Flyover, caught fire and exploded last Sunday.
Navid’s family staged a protest demonstration in front of the chief minister’s residence in Model Town. They said the tragedy had occurred due to negligence of the officials who had released the balloons in the air.
They demanded that the authorities punish them.
Navid’s father Muhammad Asghar said Navid was his only son and brother of three sisters. “His death is an irreparable loss for us. Those responsible for it should be brought to book,” he told The Express Tribune.
Shabbir, a neighbour, said his two sons had also been injured on April 20. He said they were receiving treatment at the hospital. “No government official has visited us. We have also not received any compensation,” he said.
Nishtar Colony Sub-Inspector Muhammad Munir said police had sent a report on the tragedy to the authorities.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2014.