Cylinder blast creates panic in Lines Area

Tension heightened when a gas cylinder exploded at a shop situated in Lines Area late Monday, police and rescuers said. According to police and rescuers, the news of the blast, aired by different TV channels, created panic amid extraordinary security measures taken to avert any untoward incident on the eve of Youme-e-Ashur.
They said the Muharram procession passed the site minutes before the explosion took place. Police said the blast was heard in far-off areas but upon reaching the location they found that it was due to a cylinder explosion. A number of ambulances and heavy contingents of law enforcement agencies rushed to the scene. Angry mourners staged protest against the LEAs at the scene but later dispersed peacefully on the assurance of the police. An official said the blast destroyed the wall of a shop. The officials of the Bomb Disposal Squad were called to ascertain the nature of blast.