Woman killed, six hurt as cylinder blast triggers building collapse in Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad: A woman was killed while six others including a fire official was critically injured after a two storey building collapsed due a cylinder blast in Loni area of Ghaziabad on late Wednesday night. Police said that the cylinder exploded after a fire got triggered at ground floor of the building.

According to police, the incident occurred in Ikarampur area of Loni on late Wednesday night when the woman, identified as Fathima, was sleeping at the first floor of building along with her four children. Somehow, flames started coming out from a room at ground floor of the building and the woman immediately reacted to that. She managed to rescue her children but suddenly a cylinder exploded and the woman was trapped in the debris as the building collapsed due to the blast.

"Locals informed police about the incident following which police and fire team along with three tenders of fire fighters rushed to the spot. NDRF teams were also called to perform the rescue operations and the woman was rescued from the debris. She was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared her dead on arrival," said a senior police official.

Cops said that other than the woman who died in the incident, a 6-year-old kid and a fire officer also sustained injuries in the incident.

"While performing the rescue operation, another blast occurred at the building which injured a fire leading officer and he has been getting treatment at hospital. An injured child was also admitted to hospital with minor injuries," the officer added. Meanwhile, the fire officials suspected that a short circuit at the electricity meter on ground floor triggered the fire which spread to upper floor of the building.