A pedestrian was killed and another injured as a gas cylinder exploded at Sutrapur Reaz Kazi Lane in the district town yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Ruku Chowdhury, 25, son of Masud alias Mahatab Chowdhury of Cohail Road in the town.

Police and locals said one Abdus Salam, 60, a balloon trader, kept the cylinder beside the road at Sutrapur Reaz Kazi Lane in the area around 10:00am.

All of a sudden, the cylinder exploded, leaving Ruku dead on the spot and another local vegetable trader injured. The 50-year-old injured was later rushed to Mohammad Ali Hospital in the town.

Following the incident, aggrieved relatives of the deceased beat up the cylinder owner, said superintendent of police Mozammel Haque, adding that they also swooped on the flat of Salam at Comfort Garden in the town.

Abdus Salam was detained in connection with the incident, said the SP.