Bareilly (UP)/UNI: Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment of Uttar Pradesh Arun Saxena and a batter of senior officers had a narrow escape even as two persons were injured in an explosion during a demonstration of a machine to detect underground cable fault locator machine on Monday, official sources said here.

Sources said that a programme to hold a demonstration and inauguration of the machine was held at a sub-station in Rampur Bagh was organised.

"The minister Arun Saxena was the chief guest of the function, which was attended by Divisional Commissioner Saumya Agarwal, District Magistrate Shivakant Dwivedi, Municipal Commissioner Nidhi Gupta and other officials," they said.

Sources said that as the demonstration started and the Superintending Engineer (City) of Energy Department pierced a rod in the ground it led to an explosion.

"This led to a stampede-like situation on the spot and people ran to take shelter," they said.

Sources said that while the minister and other officers escaped unhurt, two persons, including a contractual employee Brijesh Singh and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker Pradeep Rohilla were injured in the incident and have been admitted to the hospital.

Minister Arun Saxena expressed deep displeasure over the departmental negligence. He spoke to Energy Minister AK Sharma and urged him to order an inquiry and take strict action against the guilty.

He and the officers returned from there without watching the demo.

Divisional Commissioner Saumya Agarwal and DM Shivakant Dwivedi have ordered an inquiry into the incident.

"On the directives of the two officers a three-member committee has been constituted," sources said.