NEW DELHI: Two firefighters were killed and two injured when a cooking gas cylinder exploded while they were extinguishing a blaze in a snack shop here on Friday morning.
Five firetenders were rushed when a fire broke out at a food and snacks shop in west Delhi around 5.35 a.m. on Friday.
"There was a minor fire in the shop. But an LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinder exploded when our men were busy dousing the flames," a Delhi Fire Service official told IANS.
Hari Singh Meena, 55, died on the spot and his colleague Hariom, 56, later succumbed to his injuries.
Firemen Naveen and Ravinder received minor injuries and were being treated at B.L. Kapur Memorial Hospital here.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who visited the hospital to meet the injured, said there were "no procedural lapses".
"There was a blast just when the firemen lifted the shutter of the shop. No one could have known there were leaking cylinders inside," Jain said.
"At first glance, there doesn't seem to be any lapse related to following of protocol. However, the real reason would be known only after the inquiry."
Jain urged Delhi residents to take fire safety measures seriously.
"There were four cylinders inside such a small shop. People in Delhi are not scared of fire hazards. There is a need to create awareness on fire safety measures," he said.