LAHORE, March 30: Eight people, including two brothers, suffered multiple burns and injuries following a gas explosion in a pipe factory in Quaid-i-Azam Industrial Estate, Green Town, on Saturday.

Rescue 1122 shifted the injured to Jinnah Hospital. Loss is yet to be worked out.

The injured were identified as Tariq Hayat, 42, Arshad Rehmat, 18, Sohail Ahmad, 20, Shahzad Ahmad, 22, Pervaiz Hayat, 47, Muhammad Sharif, 69, Haq Nawaz, 22, and Shafique, 35.

Factory owner Pervaiz and his brother reached the unit along with staff in the morning and were about to start work on machines when the incident took place.

Emergency Officer (Operations) Shahid Waheed Qamar told Dawn that gas accumulation in the manufacturing section of the unit was the apparent cause of explosion and fire.

He said as the machines were switched on for melting purpose by the staff, the explosion occurred which led to the fire.

He said the factory owner had got the gas supply from an adjacent factory and it might have leaked.

He said fire-fighting lasted for more than an hour.

FIRE AT SHOP: Two people suffered burns in a shop fire in Shadbagh area on Saturday.

Police said general store owner Saud and his employee Aziz suffered burns when they tried to extinguish fire on their own.

They were admitted to hospital by locals. The reason for the fire was said to be short circuit.

MURDERED: A 29-year-old bakery employee was clubbed to death allegedly by his fellow following a quarrel in Gujjarpura on Saturday.

Police said the accused attacked Nasir of Azad Kashmir who was asleep at the time of the incident. The suspect fled the scene after killing Nasir.

Police shifted the bodies for autopsy and began investigation.

TRAIN ACCIDENT: An elderly woman was found dead close to Shahdara Town railway crossing on Saturday.

Police suspected the woman, yet to be identified and appeared to be a beggar, was run over and killed by a train.

INMATES RELEASED: As many as eight prisoners were released from the Kot Lakhpat Central Jail on the orders of the Lahore district and sessions judge on Saturday.

According to an official, D&SJ Nazir Gajana flanked by five civil judges visited the jail and ordered release of eight prisoners involved in minor offences.

The team also visited the jail hospital, kitchen and barracks and expressed satisfaction over security, cleanliness and food.