SARGODHA, Nov 16: Panic gripped the railway station on Tuesday evening when a gas cylinder exploded in a vendor's shop at the Platform No 2 at a time when two trains were ready for departure.

Hundreds of passengers of the Karachi-bound Chenab Express and a Faisalabad-bound train at the platform No 1 and 2, respectively, forgot for a moment their departure time and got down the bogies. They started running helter-skelter when a bomb hoax touched their ears.

Unaware of the blast, the railway authorities hurriedly took both the trains away.

The blast at the vendor's shop turned it into ashes and the railway authorities called out fire brigade to prevent flames from spreading.

The flames were extinguished timely due to which no loss of life took place. The railways lost its property the cost of which was not estimated till our going into press.

According to the preliminary inquiry, a gas cylinder at vendor Safdar's stall exploded and the place was soon under fire at 5.45pm. Fear of a bomb created panic at the railway station and both the trains were shifted to other platform from where they departed half an hour late.

KILLINGS: Seven people, including two women, were killed in separate incidents here during Eid days.

Ashraf was shot dead by his rivals Asif, Riaz and Ashraf, etc. on Eid day when he was going to see his uncle in Luqman village, some 30 kilometres from here.

Dispenser Fazal Ahmad was killed by his opponent Mukhtar Ahmad while he was sitting in a drug shop in Hajka village, Bhera.

Muhammad Yar of Chak 127 NB shot dead his first wife Manzooran on Eid day after a scuffle on some family matter.

In Chak 160 NB, Allah Ditta, Aslam, Khalid and Sajid shot dead their opponent Salim on Monday when he was going to see his relatives. They also shot and injured his relatives Maqsood Ali, Mudassar, Sajida Perveen and Kaneez Perveen. They were admitted to hospital where Maqsood succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday.

According to FIR, Allah Ditta and Salim had a scuffle a couple of days ago and the former killed the latter to take revenge.

Aamer Shahzad of Sher Muhammad Wala was stabbed to death by Allah Ditta alias Mehnga who suspected that the former had illicit relations with his sister.

A speeding car (LOR-9801) crushed Gul Muhammad to death near Chak 24 SB on Sargodha-Lahore road while teenager Umair Amjad was hit and killed by another vehicle (BU-3703) in D-block of Satellite Town.

Meanwhile, Nasim Bibi, who had sustained injuries in an accident near Samoranwali, succumbed to injuries on Monday.