Lorry fire sparks LPG cylinder blast in AP; none hurt

A lorry today caught fire following which about 60 LPG cylinders kept in it exploded, leading to tense moments in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district.

The mishap occurred in Enugumarri village near Dhone on National Highway-44 at around 7.20 AM, police said.

No one was injured in the incident. However, three haystacks in the village were reduced to ashes, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dhone sub-division) P N Babu told PTI over phone.

The lorry carrying 450 gas cylinders from Anantapur district was heading to Kurnool, when the driver noticed flames from the engine and suddenly stopped the vehicle near a roadside. He rushed to the village and alerted the locals to vacate their houses and leave the place, the DSP said.

"As the flames spread, the gas cylinders caught fire and started exploding. At least 50-60 cylinders exploded in the process. Police and fire personnel rushed to spot immediately and the blaze was brought under control," he said.

"Traffic movement on the highway was affected for some time due to the fire but was later restored," the police officer said.A probe is on into the mishap, he added.