Cylinder explosions kill two at embroidery unit

Surat: Two workers died and 13 were injured in a major fire triggered by an LPG cylinder blast at an embroidery unit in Bharatnagar in the Varachha police station jurisdiction early on Thursday.Fire officials said three of eight LPG cylinders stored in the unit exploded, causing the fatalities. All the cylinders have been handed over to Varachha police, who are investigating the incident. Fire teams rushed to the spot with four vehicles after receiving the alert. The blaze broke out on the third floor of the unit, which had a metal-sheet structure. Around 22 workers, who lived and worked there, were asleep when the fire started. Officials said the fire is suspected to have been sparked by a short circuit. As the flames spread through the stored clothes, they ignited the small LPG cylinders used by workers for cooking. The blast killed two workers sleeping near the cylinders. "The building has three floors and is used for embroidery and sewing work. Workers live, work and cook there. Around 4.30am, a short circuit caused a fire in the stored clothes, leading to an explosion in the small gas cylinders used by the workers for cooking. This made the fire more intense. Thirteen people are being treated at SMIMER Hospital, while two have died. The remaining seven are currently out of danger," said a police official. Fire teams rescued 11 trapped workers using a hydraulic ladder. "The fire was in Unit Nos. 46-47, which had a metal shed on the terrace. We cut the metal shed to rescue the workers. We have seized the eight cylinders, including the three exploded ones, and handed them over to police," a fire official said.