RAWALPINDI: A balloon vendor and three others were injured on Saturday, after a cylinder to fill balloons with gas exploded at a market in Dheri Hassanabad, police said.

Rescue 1122 moved the injured to Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) for medical treatment, where they were identified as Mohammad Ramzan, Shehzad, Waseem and Ilyas. Police said the vendor, Mohammad Ramzan, is in critical condition.

Sub-inspector Mohammad Amjad from the Civil Lines police station said Mr Ramzan was mixing carbide and soda in atank, to catalyse gas pressure to fill balloons, when the tank exploded.

He said the vendor and three passersby were injured. Police have registered the incident in the daily crime register, and an investigation has begun.

A doctor at BBH said Mr Ramzan was in critical conditions, while the other victims were discharged after they had received the necessary treatment.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2016