Uttar Pradesh: At least 13 killed as cylinder blast triggers building collapse in Mau, several trapped

VARANASI: At least 13 people were killed while six others suffered injuries when two buildings collapsed in Validpur area in Mau district in Uttar Pradesh following a blast in an LPG cylinder early on Monday. Officials said the building belonged to one Chhotu Badhai.
District magistrate Mau, Gyan Prakash Tripathi, who was present at the spot where the incident took place said that 12 bodies had reached the mortuary and six injured had been admitted to a hospital.
Later in the day, the toll rose to 13.
The incident occurred when a woman tried to ignite an LPG stove in one of the kitchens in the building leading to a fire in the gas cylinder.
On seeing the fire spreading rapidly, some people present at a tea kiosk in the neighbourhood rushed into the building to douse the flames.
Before they could succeed in their bit, the cylinder exploded and the three-storey building collapsed. Apart from six women and girls of Badhai's family, all the persons who entered the building got trapped under the debris.
Upon hearing the sound of explosion, hundreds of locals started rescue operation even before the police arrived.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath took cognizance of the incident . He has expressed his deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and directed that DM and SP and all officers to immediately provide all possible relief and medical help to the injured persons.