ISLAMABAD, June 23 (Xinhua) — A powerful explosion ripped through a residential area in Lahore, the capital city of Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, killing at least two people and injuring 15 others, an official said on Wednesday.

A police official, two children and a woman were among the injured, Deputy Commissioner of Lahore Mudassar Riaz Malik told Xinhua, adding that the forensic and bomb disposal investigations are underway, and evidences are being collected to determine the cause of the blast.

The injured have been transported to a nearby hospital, and several of them are in critical condition due to severe burn injuries, said the official.

Following the explosion, rescue, police, and bomb disposal teams cordoned off the entire area for rescue activities.

Eyewitnesses in the area told Xinhua that the blast was so powerful that it was heard from a far distance, triggering panic among the residents, adding that glass windows of nearby buildings as well as some vehicles were also severely damaged.

Taking notice of the incident, Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar directed the concerned authorities to investigate the incident and submit a report as soon as possible.

“Those responsible for the blast should be brought under the law,” he said.