Pics by Rons Bantwal

Mumbai, Oct 7 (IANS): At least five people were killed and 27 injured when a portion of an old building collapsed following a gas cylinder blast in south Mumbai Thursday afternoon, officials said. A portion of the Dwarkadas building in Chor Bazaar area came crashing down following the gas cylinder blast outside the building, Chief Fire Officer U.K. Tatkare said.

The cylinder exploded when gas was being filled in a taxi parked near the building, Tatkare said.

The injured, including two minors and three women, were admitted at the Sir J.J. Hospital, the official said.

Residents of other old buildings in the vicinity said the cylinder blast had led to cracks developing in their structures and demanded that the civic authorities carry out an inspection.

Meanwhile, clearing of the debris of the collapsed structure was in progress.

“Our priority is to ensure that there are no others under the rubble. Later we will examine the other buildings in the vicinity where cracks have appeared,” Tatkare said.