RAWALPINDI: A gas-refill shop was completely gutted after several Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders exploded near the Leprosy Hospital on Raja Zafaraul Haq Road in Glass Factory area Monday morning. No injuries or casualties were reponed.

The incident happened within the limits of the Waris Khan police station and a heavy contingent of police also rushed to the site to investigate the incident. Rescue 1122 fire-fighters extinguished the fire.

According to the police, neighbouring houses and other propeny were also damaged when several of the cylinders exploded.

A senior police officer told Dawn the explosion happened due to a leak.

He said the shopkeeper was filling gas illegally. The shopkeeper was identified as Yar Mohammad while the building was owned by one Haji Salim.

`The shopkeeper kept many LPG cylinders in a small and congested shop,` the police officer said.

The Waris Khan police have inspected the site and entered the incident in the daily crime register.

The shopkeeper and building owner will also be interrogated.

Fear and panic spread in the area after the explosions and many locals protested against the police for allowing an illegal gas filling operation in the populated area.

They demanded that City Police Officer Abbas Ahsan take action against the officials of Waris Khan police and also arrest the shopkeeper and building owner.