Inspector General of Police, Kanpur, G L Meena confirmed the two deaths. Both the bodies have been recovered, he said. Officials said 12 persons, including 8 children, were rescued from the debris, while around 10 others were feared trapped.
"The blast occurred in a staff quarter which collapsed due to the impact," District Magistrate Mukesh Meshram said, adding relief and rescue operation was on. The cause of the blast was being ascertained, he said.
The police, however, said it was not a terror attack. DIG, Kanpur, Prem Prakash said the explosion might have been triggered by fire crackers or it could be because of LPG cylinder blast.
The incident created panic in the area and senior officials rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control.
Published 28 October 2010, 11:20 IST