At least six persons, including four women, were killed and 50 others injured when a multi-storeyed building in Surat collapsed after a powerful blast early on Sunday, police sources said.
The blast was so powerful that two adjoining buildings also collapsed, they said.
The explosion occurred at 3:25 am in mini Saurashtra Varacha area in the eastern part of the city.
Five of those killed have been identified as Ashish Vinubhai Rakholia, Sanduben Meghjibhia Dobaria, Kiranben Meghjibai Dobaria, Shitalben Dinesh Sanghvi and Nanduben Veljibhai.
The injured, some of whom were in serious condition, have been admitted to three different hospitals, the sources said.
District police and fire personnel were still engaged in rescue operations at the site.
The cause of the explosion was yet to be ascertained.
Of the 30 admitted to various hospitals in the city, 19 were discharged after first aid while condition of 11 seriously injured is stable and out of danger, police said.
"More than 50 other persons are still trapped in the debris. Rescue and relief operations are being carried out on war footing by fire brigade and municipal corporation personnel to save the trapped people," Surat Range Commissioner of Police VK Gupta said.
"We have rescued over 35 persons even as many others are still feared trapped in the rubble," he said.
The blast occurred in a three-storeyed
building, used for residential purpose, and its impact was so powerful
that two adjoining buildings, used for commercial establishments, also
collapsed, he added. "However, exact cause of the blast is not immediately
known as the place where it occurred is still under debris," Gupta said
adding, according to preliminary reports the blast might have occurred
due to gas cylinder used in furnaces in the area dominated by diamond workers.
Senior district and police officials are supervising the rescue operations,
Gupta added.