Illegal LPG godown explodes in Khandwa locality, 7 injured

INDORE: Explosions rocked a residential locality in MP's Khandwa city on Wednesday night as LPG cylinders at an alleged illegal storehouse blew up in an inferno, critically injuring at least seven people, including three children.

Some 300 houses in Ghaspura locality were evacuated and firefighters were tearing down houses with JCB machines at the time this report was filed in a desperate bid to stop the fire from spreading. Videos of the incident show huge blasts sending flames shooting 50-60 feet high. There were at least 20 explosions.

Police identified the injured as house owner Rajesh Panwar, 46, his wife Madhuri, 40, sons Roshan, 15, and Deepak, 22, and Bhanu Bhanwre, 16, Harshal Bhagat, 16, and Sarish Vishwakarma, 32.

"Seven people were brought in with burns. One of them left the hospital. Four have been admitted at the district hospital and two have been referred to Indore. The severity of burns can be confirmed only after examination. Those referred to Indore have severe burns," Khandwa civil surgeon Dr Vijay Singh said. Sources said the victims may have suffered 80%-85% burns.

"Madhuri and her son Deepak were referred to Indore's MY hospital," said ASP Rajesh Raghuwanshi.

It's a four-hour drive (140km) to Indore. Till midnight, after three hours of firefighting, the blaze had not yet been fully contained. The narrow road made it even more difficult for firefighters.

Local residents were eager to assist and initially joined the firefighting but when the explosions started, firefighters asked them to move to safety. Screams and sirens merged in the chaos, punctuated every now and then by explosions that rocked the locality.

Even after the fire is doused, it will take some time to enter the building because of the threat of cylinder blasts. Locals claimed that more than 100 LPG cylinders were stored in the illegal domestic gas refilling shop near Ghaspura Urdu School. Around 8pm, flames were seen leaping out of the shop. And then, the first explosion.

Fuelled by the cylinder blasts, the blaze quickly engulfed four to five houses. Emergency services rushed to the scene. ASP Rajesh Raghuwanshi and other senior officers directed rescue operations on the spot. Two fire engines arrived but were dwarfed by the ferocity of the fire.

"Do we only have two fire engines in the city?" screamed Abdul Azad, whose house was among those reduced to ashes by the fire.

Videos show the flames slowly dying out at one location only to surge when a cylinder would explode.

"The smoke made it difficult to breathe. We ran about, evacuating people from nearby houses. There were a few children playing outside when the fire erupted. Two of them were injured. As we were coming out, the cylinders started exploding one after another. The fire grew bigger with every blast and spread rapidly in the area. By the time fire tenders arrived, the blaze had engulfed several shops and houses," said Shabbir Khan, a local resident.

Residents locked up their homes and fled with only the clothes on their back to safer areas. The surrounding terraces were filled with people helplessly watching their homes and shops go up in flames.tnn


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