Two persons, including a woman, died and at least 15 others injured when a cooking gas cylinder exploded in a ladies hostel at Gachibowli here this morning, police said.
The incident occurred at around 8 am when an empty gas cylinder was being replaced even as another gas-stove burner was on, they said.
“It seems that gas leaked from the regulator of the empty cylinder and there was a sudden explosion in the kitchen located on the first floor of the four-storey building,” they added.
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A watchman identified as Ramesh (40) was killed in the explosion and a woman Rekha, believed to be 23, succumbed to the injuries at a hospital, a police officer said.
“A portion of the wall of the building also collapsed after the blast while at least 15 women, most of them students and software professionals, also sustained burn injuries and were rushed to different hospitals. Condition of three is critical,” the officer said.