Gas cylinder explosion in UP kills four

A woman and three children were killed in Uttar Pradesh when a gas cylinder being carried on their bus exploded, police said Tuesday.

The incident took place in Bulandshahr late Monday on the bus which was on its way to Jahangirabad from Shikarpur.

Police said soon after the cylinder exploded, the bus caught fire and all the 130 passengers travelling on it were injured.

The four dead were rushed to the Safdarjung and Ram Manohar Lohia hospitals in New Delhi.

Fifty five passengers received serious burn injuries and are being treated in Delhi hospitals. The condition of 15 other passengers is said to be critical.

Many passengers were sitting on the roof top of the bus when the incident took place.

Locals said a massive explosion took place after which the bus was engulfed in fire. They blamed the administration for not reaching the spot on time.

As the matter reached the Chief Minister's Office late Monday, instructions were issued to give the best possible medical aid to the injured, an official told IANS.

The official also said the seriously burnt will be given Rs.1 lakh each while those with less severe burns will be given Rs.50,000 each by the state government.