At least 12 people died and six others were injured when a cylinder exploded in a two-storey house in Walidpur area here on Monday, officials said.
The house collapsed following the explosion. Some nearby houses were also damaged in the incident.
Food was being cooked in the house when the explosion took place.
Citing a report of Gyan Prakash Tripathi, the District Magistrate of Mau, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said, "12 bodies are in mortuary. Six injured persons are in hospital. NDRF team from Varanasi is on way to the spot."