9 people killed, 19 injured in gas cylinder blast in Rajasthan

Yash Goyal

Our Correspondent

Jaipur, February 17 

Nine people were killed and 19 others injured following a blast in two cooking gas cylinders owing to leakage at a marriage function in Beawar town of Ajmer district on Friday night.

The death toll is likely to go up as rescue teams are clearing debris at the site. 

Ajmer SP Rajendra Singh Choudhary said the deceased had been identified as Lakshit, Kartvaya, Khushi, Abhishek, Basant Kumar, Hitesh Bhati, Nirmala, Monika and Hemlata.

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The injured were rushed to hospitals in Ajmer, Beawar, Bhilwara and Jaipur.

Two cars and a few two-wheelers were buried under the debris. Twelve houses around the building were damaged.

Two bodies were recovered on Friday night and seven on Saturday from the wreckage during the rescue operation undertaken by the NDRF, CDRF and police.

The incident reportedly took place as cooks were transferring gas from one cylinder to another.

A few people were reported missing after the blast.

Rescue operation is under way since Friday night, police officer SS Sodha said. 

The district administration has assured ex gratia to the families of the deceased. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has condoled the deaths.