PESHAWAR, Dec 15: Two labourers were killed when a building collapsed after a steam boiler exploded near Masjid Mahabat Khan here on Thursday.

The incident took place on Ashraf Road where a three-storey building collapsed after the explosion at a wool factory at 1.45am and as a result two labourers were killed on the spot and another was injured seriously.

A Rescue 1122 spokesman said that the bodies had been recovered after continuous efforts of five hours. The victims were identified as Shehzad (30) and Mohammad Hanif (33), both belong to Gujrat. Another worker, Iqbal, was recovered in injured condition and shifted to Lady Reading Hospital in serious condition.

The factory owner, Kareem Khan, told Dawn that the steam boiler had burst due to increase in temperature.

A police official of Khan Raziq police station said that an inquiry into the case had been initiated and added that the boiler would be sent to the concerned department for expert opinion so that case against the accused would be registered.