Shanghai Daily news

Four commuters were injured when a canister containing freon gas exploded on a bus in Minhang District yesterday afternoon.
Two persons suffered frostbite on their legs from the escaping gas, which is used in air conditioners. The others were hurt when they jumped from a bus window in fear for their lives.
“Four stops after I got on the Xinbei Line, something behind me burst,” said passenger Wang Chunyan. “My legs got so cold that they lost feeling.”
After blast, the bus was filled with white smoke.
“When I looked back, I saw there was a broken tank on the ground,” Wang said.
Panicked passengers tried to flee through the bus’ only door.
“Someone even jumped from the window,” Wang said.
The injured were taken to the No. 455 Hospital, where they were treated and released.
One victim, also surnamed Wang, will be checked by doctors for the next three days to determine the extent of his frostbite, which may cause permanent scarring.
Authorities said the two people carrying the canister weren’t hurt.
One was taken to the Qibao Police Station and the other accompanied the injured to the hospital.
The carriers were identified as employees of Shanghai Luyuan Environment Equipment Co Ltd, whose main business is selling air
conditioners.
A company official surnamed Wang visited the hospital to meet with the injured.
“We regret the accident and will surely take all responsibility,” he said.
He explained that the two employees received a call from a customer who asked them to repair his air conditioner as soon as possible.
The company’s car was unavailable, so the men took a bus, carrying a freon tank with them, Wang said. There was no explanation for why the canister exploded.
Officials from Jinqiu Taxi Company, which manages the Xinbei Line, said such dangerous items are banned from its buses.
“But since they hid the tank in their bag, the conductor and driver didn’t realize they had it,” an official surnamed Shu said.
Shu said that the company will upgrade employee training to prevent similar accidents.