Worker Dies in Gulberg Factory Blast
A worker died and eight of his colleagues were injured on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when a gas cylinder exploded at a factory in Lahore’s Gulberg area. The Gulberg factory blast took place on the first floor of the Shezan Bakers factory on Gurumangat Road, where more than 40 employees were at work.
A spokesperson for Rescue 1122 said the blast followed a leakage in the gas cylinder. Part of the building collapsed soon after the explosion, and a fire broke out in the baking section. Rescue teams rushed to the site, shifted the injured to hospital and searched the damaged building for anyone trapped under the debris.
The worker who died was identified as Sajid, 35, son of Fareed. Rescue officials said he succumbed to his injuries during the incident. Eight other workers were injured by the blast and falling debris, and three of them were in critical condition, Dawn reported. The injured workers named in other reports were Saleem, Hanif, Nawaz, Munir and Ishtiaq, along with three others whose names were not immediately released.
Police secured the site and started an investigation into the cause of the gas leak. The exact cause has not yet been established. Reports from the scene said the explosion was so intense that it shook nearby buildings. Rescue teams evacuated the remaining workers from the floor safely after the blast.
Gulberg factory blast: what happened at the factory
The explosion happened in the baking section on the first floor, according to Rescue 1122 and police accounts carried by several outlets. Gas had leaked from a cylinder in that section, and the blast followed soon after. The force of the explosion caused part of the first floor to collapse and set fire to the baking area.
More than 40 employees were working in the building at the time. That number explains why the casualty count, while serious, was not higher. Rescue teams moved quickly to clear the floor, and the injured were taken to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment. One report said the injured were taken to Jinnah Hospital and Services Hospital in Lahore.
The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday, according to police accounts. By Sunday evening, the site had been secured and the investigation was under way. No statement from the factory management about the cause had been reported by the time Dawn’s newspaper edition went to press on November 2.
Why factory gas safety matters in Lahore
Gas cylinders are used widely in bakeries, food units and small factories across Lahore. A leak in a closed baking area can build up fast, and a single spark can turn it into a blast. That risk rises when cylinders are stored near heat, when fittings are old, or when a leak goes unnoticed in a busy work area.
The Gulberg incident is not the first factory accident of its kind in Punjab this year, and it underlines a practical point for owners and workers alike. Cylinders need regular checks, leaks need to be reported at once, and workers need a clear escape route from every floor. Rescue 1122 teams train for exactly this kind of call, where a blast, a fire and a partial collapse arrive together.
For readers in Lahore, the case also raises a question about routine safety checks in older industrial buildings. Gulberg mixes homes, shops and factories on busy roads, so an incident inside one building can quickly affect neighbours. Police and rescue officials have not yet said whether the factory had passed a recent safety inspection, and that detail may emerge as the investigation continues.
What happened at the Gulberg factory?
A gas cylinder exploded on the first floor of the Shezan Bakers factory on Gurumangat Road in Lahore’s Gulberg area on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
How many people were killed or injured?
One worker, Sajid, 35, died, and eight colleagues were injured, three of them critically, according to Rescue 1122 and Dawn.
What caused the blast?
Rescue officials said the blast followed a leakage in a gas cylinder in the baking section. Police are investigating the exact cause.
How many workers were in the building?
More than 40 employees were at work in the factory when the explosion happened.
What happens next?
Police have secured the site and started an investigation. The condition of the critically injured workers will be watched closely in the coming days.
