The cylinder was kept near the only exit of the jhuggi in Okhla and people were trapped inside; groom's mother and brother among the dead
Just two days ahead of his wedding, the worst tragedy of his life struck Ravikant late on Monday night, when an LPG cylinder in his shanty-cum-tea shop exploded and killed his mother, younger brother, a cousin, and two aunts. The shocked survivors have accused the Fire Department of apathy and delay, saying the fire tenders did not turn up in time despite being called twice.
The incident was reported from the Tata Steel jhuggi cluster in southeast Delhi's Okhla area around 9.30pm. Neighbours said many guests and relatives from outside the city had gathered for the wedding celebrations. The police received a call regarding the incident at 9.45pm, and a team was immeditaely rushed to the spot.
"Nine people were injured and were rushed to hospital. A primary probe revealed that a gas stove with an LPG cylinder was placed at the main entry of the jhuggi, and the area was being used as a kitchen. The gas leaked from the regulator. Since it was the only exit, people in the jhuggi were trapped inside. After the fire fighters controlled the blaze, all the injured were shifted to the Safdarjung and ESI hospitals, where five of them died. Four are being treated for critical burns," DCP (southeast) Romil Baaniya said.
The deceased were identified as groom's mother Usha, 40, cousin Khushi, 6, brother Shashikant, 20, and aunts Lalsa Devi, 30, and Santra Devi, 28. While three of them died on the spot, Shashikant and Lalsa Devi succumbed during the treatment.
"We called up the fire brigade twice, but they did not respond," Jitendra, one of the survivors, said. He further said that he was fortunate to have stepped out of the jhuggi seconds before the blast. Claiming that the fire fighters came 45 minutes after the police made the call, survivors said more people could have been saved with timely action. Shortage of water in the area also hampered the rescue operation initiated by locals.
According to eyewitness Rajkumar, a neighbour of the affected family, the fire was massive in proportion, making it impossible for anyone to go near the jhuggi.
"Seconds after the explosion, I heard people screaming and ran out of the house to see Ravikant' s house on fire. Half of the structure had collapsed. Neighbours tried their best to help the family trapped inside but nothing could be done. We called up the police and the fire department, but by the time help arrived, the entire jhuggi and the tea shop had been gutted," he said.
Ravikant and three of his relatives, who were in the close vicinity, were injured while trying to help their family members. The injured were identified as groom's father Surendra Prasad, 40, his cousin Jitendra Prasad, 17, and another relative Guddu.Jitendra, who recently completed his schooling from UP, said: "Who knew wedding celebrations would take such a tragic turn. No one is left in the family. More guests were to arrive on Tuesday and we had so many plans. The wedding will have to be called off. The entire clan is in grief."
Meanwhile, the DCP said the bodies have been sent for post-mortem and the matter is being probed. "There seems to be no foul play but the sabotage angle is being looked into. A case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 304A for causing death due to negligence and other relevant sections has been registered," the officer said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Okhla-victims")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}