Delhi: One dead, several injured in oxygen cylinder blast in Okhla

New Delhi, Sep 9 (AHN) At least one person died and several others sustained injuries after an oxygen cylinder exploded in South East Delhi's Okhla area on Wednesday, officials said.

The blast was reported around 11 am, following which three fire trucks and a multi-casualty response vehicle were sent to the spot.

Speaking to AHN, an eyewitness said that the incident took place while the cylinders were being unloaded from a vehicle.

Another person, Saud said: "The incident took place around 10:00 am. One person died on the spot, we even saw his body...around three to four people are injured."

Kurshid Alam added: "These are oxygen cylinders that were used with cutter machines in the factory here. The blast took place while the cylinders were being unloaded."

According to Alam, people who were within the 100 metres radius, also sustained injuries.

In a similar incident last month, at least three people were killed after CNG cylinder of a truck exploded at the fuel station near Tikri Kalan Metro Station in the Outer Delhi area.

Six people were injured in the incident, the Delhi Police said.

One of the deceased was identified as 25-year-old Manish, a resident of West Delhi's Baba Haridas Colony. According to the officials, he was filling the gas in the CNG cylinder of the truck. The other deceased was identified as 32-year-old Sunny Nizampur.

The identity of the third person killed in the incident was unknown at the time of the report. However, the police had confirmed that all were employees of the CNG pump.

According to the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), the six injured persons were seen standing nearby when the explosion occurred and sustained injuries.

The DFS said that it received a call about the blast at around 3:37 p.m., following which six fire tenders were dispatched to the incident site.

As soon as the information regarding the blast was received, large teams of police and fire personnel were deployed in the area. The injured were subsequently shifted to the nearest hospital.