Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

27 killed in Pakistan wedding fire

Sunday 17 December 2006 05:12 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A fire that broke out in a wedding party tent in eastern Pakistan triggered a stampede and wall collapse that killed 27 women and children, including the bride, police said today.

More than 30 other people were injured when the wedding party turned into tragedy late last night local time in Jhok Utra, a village about 75 miles west of the city of Multan.

A high-powered electric light apparently set off the fire in the large canvas tent where more than 100 women and children, many singing wedding songs, were present, area police officer Khadim Hussain Khadim said.

He said the women and children died of burns from the flaming and collapsing tent, from injuries caused by a stampede when people tried to escape, and from debris from a nearby newly-built wall that toppled in the stampede.

The tent had been set up on the lawn at the home of the bride, who was among the dead, Khadim said.

The injured were taken to hospitals in the cities of Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan.

Khadim said the men had been in a separate tent that was not damaged.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in