HYDERABAD, Feb 23: A doctor died and three members of his family were injured in an explosion, apparently caused by gas leakage, in a third floor flat in Hirabad here on Friday.

The deceased was identified as Dr Abdul Latif Memon, 45, and those injured were his mother Zainab, brother Mehboob Ellahi and Shaheena, Ellahi's wife.

Dr Memon lived alone in the third floor flat in Huma Arcade while the other family members lived in another flat in the adjacent building housing six flats.

The explosion occurred in the doctor’s flat but also had an impact on the adjacent building. The blast was so strong that the doctor was blown in the air and landed on the road through the gallery.

The victims were taken to the Civil Hospital where Dr Memon died and those injured were admitted to the Burns ward.

Besides Sui Southern Gas Company officials, a large number of people of the locality gathered outside the building. Fire tenders also rushed to the spot. District Naib Nazim Zafar Rajput, DIG (operations) Shaukat Shah and other police officers also arrived at the spot.

Windowpanes and doors of the six flats were badly damaged due to impact of the explosion. The cause of the explosion could not be known. However, SSGC officials believed that it was caused by gas leakage. According to Deputy General Manager, SSGC, Hyderabad region, Aftab Memon, gas had accumulated in the flat whose windows and doors were closed. He said that technical staff, which examined the spot, said that a rubber pipe was being used in the flat with a loose connection for gas supply and there was some leakage.

He further said that staff observed that either the deceased had lit a match or a spark in the electricity might have caused the explosion.