Police said a gas cylinder blew up in a godown at the market in Misri Shah area shortly before 3 pm (local time), causing widespread damage to the building. Several of the dead were blown to pieces while some of the injured lost their limbs. Ambulances and rescue workers rushed to the market to ferry the injured to nearby hospitals.

Eight bodies were taken to the Mayo Hospital, TV channels reported. The death toll could rise as several of the 20 injured were in a critical condition, doctors said.

Officials said they feared some persons could be buried under the debris of the godown, the roof of which was blown up in the explosion. There were also reports that several shops in the scrap market handled ordinance and ammunition.