BA HAWA LPUR: A man was killed while another suffered serious burns in a gas blast at a shop at Bhatta Chowk on theKotla MusaKhan Roadin tehsilAhmedpur East, about 50km from here, on Tuesday.

According to Rescue 1122 official Muhammad Majid, Muhammad Shahid (40) was running a grocery shop where he also repaired refrigerators.

On Tuesday, Shahid, along with his assistant Ibrahim (21), was repairing a ref rigerator and was decanting gas when the pipeline exploded. As a result, Shahid was injured while Ibrahim died on the spot. Shahid was shifted to the Ahmedpur East Tehsil Headquarters Hospital where his condition was stated to be serious.

RHC ATTACK: About two dozen people allegedly attacked the medical officer and paramedics of the RuralHealthCentre(RHC)ChannigothnearAhmedpurEast with clubs and bricks. They tortured the health workers and damaged the centre`s windowpanes.

The health centre staff closed the outpatient department in protest against the violence.

According to police, the residents of Jinnah Colony 157-NB, led by Abdul Jabbar and Muhammad Ayyaz, brought a woman patient to the RHC for treatment.

Medical Officer Dr Saddam and paramedics gave her first aid. The woman`s attendants insisted that Dr Saddam referred their patient to the THQ HospitalAhmedpur East.

The doctor made an emergency call to the Rescue 1122 and told the attendants that it would take time to shift the patient to the THQ hospital. At this, the people attacked the centre`s staff and injured an employee, identified as Abdul Waheed. They also attempted to put the ambulance on fire and damaged the RHC building. Correspondent