The blast was triggered by a suspected gas leak in a ship being dismantled at the Alang ship-breaking yard
Five persons were killed today and seven others injured when a blast triggered by a suspected gas leak took place in a ship being dismantled at the Alang ship-breaking yard in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat.
"Five persons were killed while seven others sustained injuries after a fire broke out following a blast in the ship which was being dismantled in plot number 140 at the yard," said Police Sub-Inspector K J Rathod of Marine Police Station, Alang.
Prima facie, the blast occurred due to the sudden gas leakage when the ship-breaking activity was in progress, the officer said. The intensity of the blast claimed five lives on the spot while the injured were rushed to the nearest hospitals for treatment, he said.
The exact reason behind the explosion has not been ascertained yet, said Mr Rathod, adding that forensic officials are on the spot to carry out further investigations.