LPG cylinder blast injures five of family

Five members of a family, including three children, suffered injuries when a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder exploded at their house near Kapilnagar in Kondhwa Budruk around 7.30 am on Thursday.

Investigations have revealed that the rubber tube that carries gas to the stove was damaged by mice causing leakage and blast.

Kondhwa police station sub-inspector Jagdish Raut said, “Ramikaran Sahani, the family head, is a mason and was in a hurry to reach the workplace. His wife Sunita tried to light the stove for heating water when the blast happened. Their three children were still asleep when the accident took place. The explosion created panic in the area. People ran out of their houses and called the police control room. The residents had managed to douse the fire by the time cops arrived. The victims were also shifted to the Sassoon General Hospital.”

According to the police officer, Sunita failed to notice the damaged rubber pipe that resulted in the blast. Sunita, who was later shifted to Surya Hospital, sustained 60 per cent burn injuries and is said to be in a critical condition. Ramikaran and three children have suffered minor injuries and are undergoing treatment.

“In most of such cases we have found that people are using local rubber pipes for cylinder connection,” chief fire officer Prashant Ranpise said.