4 killed, 8 injured in LPG explosion

Mumbai, Jan 28 (UNI) Four children were killed and eight others injured when the LPG cylinder of a Maruti Van, carrying schoolchildren, exploded and caught fire at Milat Nagar in Jogeshwari, a western suburb here today.

Three children died on the spot, while one succumbed to injuries in a hospital, police said.

The Maruti Van was running on LPG (cooking gas) cylinder instead of CNG, police said, adding that the driver of the vehicle Rafiq Qureshi has been arrested.

The van was carrying 12 schoolchildren of Milat High school, who were residents of Jogeshwari, Malad and Borivali in the western suburbs.

All the injured have been admitted to the V N Desai Hospital and the Cooper Hospital. One of the injured, who was stated to be in a critical condition, has been shifted to the Nanavati Hospital.

The reason behind the blast could be the use of the LPG cylinder to run the vehicle, as the owner was supposed to use only CNG cylinder.

Following the incident, agitated local residents entered the school premises and ransacked the office.

UNI AAA/ST NM SB RS1917