LAHORE: A powerful LPG cylinder blast at a filling shop on Ravi Road on Wednesday claimed the lives of five persons, including two children, and critical injuries to five others.

The instant deaths took place when the blast triggered massive fire and engulfed a major part of the filling station/shop, leaving little room for the victims to rush to save their lives.

The Rescue 1122 ambulances, police and other civic organisations rushed to the site on being alerted about the powerful cylinder blast near Batti Chowk.

There were reports that the conditionof all the injured persons was said to be serious in the nearby hospitals where they were shifted.

Eyewitnesses said the powerful blast occurred when the shop employees were refilling the LPG gas cylinder.

Resultantly, the employees, customers and the passersby got trapped shortly after the fire broke out and it engulfed the premises within minutes. A part of the shop was also damaged.

Eyewitnesses said as huge flames erupted following the blast, a traffic warden risked his life and pulled out the injured persons from the shop.

Many shopkeepers rushed out of their business points following the sound ofthe explosion.

Some locals told the media that the LPG refilling shop was situated next to a petrol pump.

Luckily, they said, the fire was curtailed timely by the Rescue 1122 experts otherwise it could have been disastrous if reached to the adjoining petrol pump.

Soon after the blast, the local shopkeepers and residents rushed to the site and tried to control the blaze with the help of water but to no avail.

However, the trained employees of the emergency services launched a rescue operation and controlled the fire, the eyewitnesses said.

The police launched investigations tofind out the exact cause of the blast and isolated the premises for the purpose.

The Lahore Operation DIG ordered the police to launch a crackdown with the help of the relevant departments on the filling stations located in the densely populated areas and those violating standard guidelines issued by the relevant authorities.

As per a handout, `Make the crackdown on sale and purchase of substandard gas cylinders more effective,` Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed the authorities concerned while expressing grief and sorrow over the loss of lives.

She offered condolences and extended her heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families.