Gas cylinder blast at roadside hotel kills 6 in northeastern Pakistan

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - At least six people were killed and another 10 injured in a gas cylinder explosion at a roadside hotel in Pakistan’s northeastern Punjab province on Sunday, police and local media reported.

The building of the two-story hotel, located in the Jehlum district along the historical Grand Trunk Road, collapsed in the explosion.

Nasir Bajwa, the district police chief, told reporters that six bodies and 10 injured have been pulled out of the rubble, whereas around a dozen, including the owner are still trapped in the basement of the collapsed building.

The owner, Bajwa said, is in contact with rescue officials through a cellphone.

A CCTV video aired by local broadcaster Geo News showed the building collapsing as a giant cloud of dust billowing upward.

Gas cylinder explosions have become frequent across Pakistan, mainly because of poor safety and maintenance standards.

On Saturday, at least seven passengers were burned to death and several others injured after a poorly-fitted gas cylinder exploded in a van in Sargodha district of Punjab.