Hyderabad, April 09: Fire broke out at an illegal gas filling unit on Krishna Nagar main road at Yousufguda this evening damaging nearly two shops adjacent to the unit. However, no casualties were reported.
The illegal gas filling centre is being run under the guise of a kirana store. Nearly seven gas cylinders, small and big, blasted resulting in a loud explosion, police said.
Around 5.30 p.m, fire broke out in Shesha Sai Kirana store and it spread rapidly.
A footwear store, Rajan footwear, located adjacent to the unit caught fire and material worth Rs 3 lakh was gutted in the mishap. Fire also spread to nearby Sri Nirmala medical store and damaged property worth Rs 2 lakh in it.
One each fire tender from Punjagutta and Sanathnagar rushed to the spot and fire fighters doused the flames within an hour.
Police said the illegal unit was being run by one Balaji.
He reportedly transfers contents of a 14.2-kg domestic gas cylinder into small cylinders and sella them at a higher price.
According to police, nearly 44 small cylinders and 12 domestic cylinders were stored in the unit.
Four smaller ones and three domestic cylinders reportedly exploded in the mishap.
Balaji is absconding.
–Agencies