13 dead, 15 injured in cooking gas cylinder blast in UP's Mau

Mau (UP): At least 13 people died, and 15 were injured in an explosion caused by a leakage in a cooking gas cylinder at a house here on Monday, officials said.

The house in Walidpur area collapsed while two adjoining ones were extensively damaged due to the impact of the explosion which occurred around 7 am, police said. The loud bang shook the neighbourhood, prompting people to rush out of their homes in panic.

The blast took place at the house of Chhotu Vishwakarma, who died around ten years ago. His widow and five daughters were staying in the house, the police said.

Chhotu's three daughters - Mona (20), Mamta (18) and Sanjana (15) -- died while the remaining family members are missing, they said.

Prima facie, the blast was triggered by a possible leakage in the cooking gas cylinder, Inspector General (Law and Order) Praveen Kumar said in Lucknow.

Due to the intensity of the blast, the roof of the house collapsed. Two adjacent houses were also severely damaged, he said, citing the initial report by Mau superintendent of police (SP) Anurag Arya.

Four family members of Kanhaiya Vishwakarma, whose house stood next to Chhotu's, also died in the blast, the police said.

They said it was not immediately known how the deceased - Reena, Sarita, Sonam and Simpi - were related to Kanhaiya.

Another neighbour Surendra Vishwakarma and his daughter Nidhi (10) also died in the explosion, the police said.

Four passers-by - Imtiyaz (25), Zeeshan (15) and Yasir (13) and Shivam — also died in the blast, they said.