ATTOCK  - At least six people, including two women and children, were killed and more than 12 others injured when a portion of a hospital in Attock collapsed on Monday, reportedly due to a cylinder blast.

Initial reports suggested that the incident took place due to a cylinder blast at Asfandyar Bokhari Hospital, as officials fear the death toll may rise further.

Attock Deputy Commissioner Rana Akbar Hayat confirmed that bodies of six people have been recovered from the incident site, whereas, more than 12 others injured were reported injured. Two critically injured survivors have been shifted to a hospital in Rawalpindi.

He added that apparently a portion of the building collapsed due to a cylinder blast, however, a probe has been initiated to find more details that led to the incident.

Sources said that two rooms in the hospital collapsed due to the blast. Among the deceased, two were nurses identified as Nazish and Aeyni. Two attendants Zahid and Samina were also among dead while identity of the two others cannot be ascertained.

According to details of the incident shared by police, the blast occurred in a three-room building being used as the VIP ward. The officials further said that causalities occurred due to the building's collapse and not because of the blast.