Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan visited the injured at the civil hospital and spoke to the residents of the building who were rescued earlier.
Three people were killed and four others seriously injured in a suspected cylinder blast at Panchavati near Nashik on Wednesday afternoon. The blast took place at the first floor of the three-storey Saptashringi building at Tarwala Nagar on Dindori Road.
Eyewitnesses said the blast took place around 3pm creating panic and chaos in the area. Blue and white thick smoke covered the entire area.
According to the residents, the blast occurred in the front side shop of the Saptashringi building. The building has 15 flats and eight shops. The shop was rented only about 10 to 15 days ago.
The blast was so powerful that it blew off the slab of this shop, completely brought down the adjacent cyber café, threw shutters to pieces. The balcony on top of this shop also came down crumbling. Several occupants of the building are feared to be trapped in the debris. As rescue workers pulled out the debris, some fire crackers and heavy explosives were recovered.
“There seems to be a machine that made fire crackers and possibly the blast occurred while using explosives to make them. The blast could have occurred due to the explosives and fire crackers there,” a source said.
“We are fortunate that our lives were saved. There was smoke all over and a typical smell. It didn’t smell like LPG gas. We don’t think it could be a cylinder blast,” said Jyoti Shinde, a resident. The building was completely damaged due to the blast. The impact of the blast was so huge that four to five buildings around the site were damaged.
As police rushed to the spot, the rescue work began. Three bodies were recovered and injured were rushed to the civil hospital. The deceased are yet to be identified.
Commissioner of Police Vinod Lokhande, who has taken charge only two days ago, supervised all the operations.
In no time, the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), RAF, dog squad and forensic experts, reached the spot.
Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, guardian minister Chagan Bhujbal, ministers Balasaheb Thorat, Vikhe Patil and Congress leader Manikrao Thakre who were in Nashik for an programme visited the blast site.
“The blast appears to be severe and all agencies are investigating the case. At this point of time, it is important to rescue those in need and clear the debris. The reason of the blast will be known only after investigation,” Chavan said. He announced a compensation of Rs1 lakh to the kin of deceased and Rs50,000 to the injured.
Home minister RR Patil said that according to the preliminary information, it appeared to be a blast caused by a gas cylinder.
“The blast having taken place in a residential area, the possibility of it having any terror link is quite remote. A forensic team has rushed to the spot and only after its reports, will we be able to come to a conclusion,” he said.
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