Cylinder blast leaves 13 injured; 3 serious

New Delhi, Mar 25 (UNI) Thirteen people were injured, three of them seriously, when a gas cylinder being illegally filled exploded in Shakarpur area of East Delhi this morning.

The injured include three children (ragpickers aged between 7 and 13), who have been admitted to the hospital, according to sources.

The blast occurred at about 0930 hrs in the base of a three-storey building 'Suraj Bhawan' in School Block area of Shakarpur leading to the collapse of the basement roof and trapping its owner Om Prakash.

Neighbours said illegal filling of small cylinders was done in the basement.

Among the injured are the building owner's son Rahul (22), daughter Neelam (23) and his three servants.

While Om Prakash and his son are admitted in a private hospital, five and six others are in G T B Hospital and Lal Bahadur Shashtri Hospitals respectively.

UNI AN LR KN2038