ISLAMABAD, May 3 (Xinhuanet) -- At least 16 people were killed and several others injured as three building collapsed in the eastern Pakistan early Tuesday when a gas cylinder godown exploded, the local Geo Television reported.

    The four-story building which has a gas cylinder godown in the first floor collapsed in the city of Lahore at 3:30 a.m. when most of the residents were asleep.

    Two nearby buildings also collapsed and other buildings close to the spot were damaged with smash of windows in the explosion.

    The report said that four women and two children were among the dead in the incident.

    Eight people were injured and shifted to local Jinnah hospital.

    Residents living around said that some 40 people lived in the buildings and they complained that residential buildings were being used for commercial purposes.

    They said that at least 15 to 20 people were in the basement at the time of the building collapse while about 8 people used to stay in the godown at night.

    Local residents rushed to the site and started rescue work and later police and civil defense agents joined the relief activities.

    Police has ruled out possibility of terrorism in the incident. Enditem