ITAHARI: At least eight persons sustained injuries in a gas cylinder explosion incident at a Shiva temple in Simariya of Sunsari district today.

Three of the victims are critical.

The District Police Office said Somraj Majhi (30) from Katari of Morang, Tara Mandal (32) from Gachhiya of Morang and a yet-to-be-identified man were critically injured.

All of them are undergoing treatment at the Nobel Medical College in Biratnagar of Morang.

A crowd had gathered at the temple for prayers and worships on the occasion of the Mahashivaratri festival.

A gas cylinder used to swell balloons for sale had exploded, police said.

Vendors Bhagawan Sah and Radheshyam Sah from Duhabi Bhaluwa-6 of Sunsari had been arrested for further investigation.