12 killed, several injured in Lasbela cylinder blast

Lasbela:  In an unfortunate incident, 12 people were killed while several others sustained injuries after a huge fire broke out following a gas cylinder explosion at a shop in the main Bela bazaar of Lasbela district in Balochistan province, GNN reported Tuesday.

As per preliminary reports, the cylinder exploded while it was being refilled at a filling shop making other nearby cylinders to blow up.  

The fire spread to other shops and engulfed at least four of them. The huge blaze reduced 24 bikes to ashes that were parked in the area.

Lasbela deputy commissioner Murad Kasi stated that over 20 people, including the shop owner, sustained burn injuries.

He added that they called fire tenders from Winder and Uthal to extinguish the rising flames  

Authorities said that the death toll is expected to rise further as some of the injured were in critical condition, with 70% to 90% burn injuries.

Police and Levies officials immediately rushed to the spot to shift the injured and deceased in the hospital.

Among the victims, eight have been identified as Muhammad Yousaf, Muhammad Hayat, Zahoor Ronjah, Muhammad Yaqoob, Haji Omer, Barkat Ronjah, Muhammad Iqbal and Hidayt­ul­lah.

In the meantime, police has started an investigation into the incident to determine the cause of negligence.