VEHARI, March 26: Thirteen people were injured when a gas cylinder shop caught fire after a blast near Mailsi on Wednesday.

According to reports reaching here, gas dealer Ghulam Yasin was filling a cylinder in Aray Wahin, 60 km from here, when it exploded with a bang, causing instant fire which spread to some neighbouring shops.

It reduced some goods to ashes and caused burns to shopkeepers and customers. The injured were admitted to the Mailsi THQ Hospital where duty doctor Muhammad Akram described their condition as stable.

The injured were identified as Ghulam Yasin, Muhammad Ramzan, Muhammad Bux, Muhammad Iqbal, Muhammad Rafiq, Muhammad Shezad, Muhammad Afzal, Mukhtar Ahmad, Niaz Ahmad, Bukht Mai, Rahim Bibi, Maqsood Mai and her four-year son Zafar Iqbal.

The fire was controlled on self-help basis by shopkeepers as the fire brigade could not reach the site.

Gas cylinder business is going on in busy markets of different towns of the district despite an official ban.