Thirty-six people suffered burn injuries after a gas cylinder exploded in the labour quarters in Ludhiana’s New Samrat Colony on Thursday morning, the Hindustan Times reported.

The incident occurred at 7 am. Station House Officer of Focal Point police station Amandeep Singh Brar said the victims were asleep when the blast took place.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Dharmpal and Sub Divisional Magistrate (East) Amarjit Singh Bains said an LPG cylinder at the home of a man called Ashok Kumar caught fire, reported The Tribune. It exploded while Kumar and his wife were trying to put out the flames with the help of a few neighbours. A portion of the building also collapsed due to the blast.