LAHORE, July 13: The Multan Road strip from Samanabad Morr to Chowk Yateem Khana remained closed for around six hours following eruption of a fire at Chappar Stop on Thursday.

Workers of a City District Government Lahore (CDGL) contractor were engaged in laying sewerage pipes in the street adjacent to the Government MC Model Junior and Girls High School, Chappar Stop, when an earth digger hit the main gas pipeline, breaking it into two pieces at around 4pm.

The labourers were attempting to control the situation when the leaking gas caught fire because of a spark in the electricity wires passing overhead.

Owners and salesmen of the nearby furniture and foam shops joined hands with the labourers to put off the fire but within minutes the flames could be seen from Samanabad Morr and Sodiwal Quarters.

Traffic policemen at Samanabad Morr used the benches and chairs of nearby burger and `Dahi Bhalay’ shops as barricades to block the road for traffic. The cops at the Yateem Khana Chowk also followed suit.

Blockade of the thoroughfare resulted in diversion of vehicles to narrow streets of Janaknagar, Gul Zeb Colony, Samanabad and Friends Colony on the eastern side while Sodiwal Quarters, Alamgir and Rustam Parks on the western side, making it almost impossible for residents to move out.

The SNGPL officials were first to arrive to switch off the gas supply. Vehicles of CDGL fire brigades started reaching the spot within half an hour but could throw water from a distance of 40 feet. The flames could be controlled at around 9.45pm.