17 children killed in gas cylinder explosion on bus

Seventeen children in eastern Pakistan have been killed after a gas cylinder exploded on a bus taking them to school.

According to reports, police officer Mohammed Rasheed said seven children were also injured in the blast on the outskirts of the city of Gujrat.

"This is a very sad incident. According to our information, at least 17 children were burned to death," he said.

"The school bus caught fire after the blast. We have transported all the victims to a nearby hospital."

According to Reuters, many vehicles in energy-starved Pakistan are powered by relatively cheap compressed natural gas and cylinder blasts are common.