Kanganwal, India – Seven people, including three children, were injured after an LPG gas cylinder exploded in labor quarters. The incident occurred as some residents were illegally refilling the cylinders, according to police reports on Wednesday.
Panic swept through the area after the explosion on Tuesday night, with at least 25 families forced to evacuate the labor quarters for the safety of the open air. The Sahnewal police have taken action by booking a man named Gaurav Jha of Kanganwal, who was allegedly involved in the illegal gas cylinder refilling.
The injured individuals have been identified as Priya, 32, Simpy, 23, Pawan Kumar, 29, along with three children aged 10, 11, and 14. One of the injured has yet to be identified, and all the victims have been rushed to the civil hospital for treatment. The condition of two children, who suffered 65% burns, is reported to be serious.
As a result of the explosion, the walls of the labor quarters developed cracks. The police also recovered a weighing machine used for measuring cylinders and damaged cylinders from the room.
According to the police, a group of laborers were involved in refilling small cylinders illegally when the gas leaked. The leaked gas ignited when the women in the neighboring rooms lit the stove for cooking, resulting in the explosion. Shyam Raj Pandey, a local resident, immediately informed the police and fire brigade, who rushed the victims to the hospital and managed to extinguish the flames after one hour.
Sub-Inspector Jasvir Singh, Incharge at Kanganwal police post, stated that an FIR has been lodged on the statement of Dilbagh Singh. An FIR under sections 285, 336, 337, and 338 of the IPC has been filed against the accused, who also suffered burn injuries and is reported to be in serious condition.