Mumbai: Eight people including two women were injured after an LPG gas cylinder exploded at a ground-plus-one-floor structure in the Fitter Gully at Gazdhar bandh Road in Santacruz West early on Saturday.
The injured sustained 25 to 40% burns and are treated in BMC hospitals. The condition of all the injured is stable.
After seeing the flames inside the structure at 6 am, two people, including one deaf and dumb Kalicharan Kanojiya, immediately alerted the neighbours who tried to douse the fire by pouring buckets of water till the fridge brigade arrived at the spot. The fire was extinguished by 6:40 am, however, until then, eight people were injured.
Cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained
As per a fire official, "The fire broke out due to the explosion of an LPG gas cylinder and then the flames were confined to electrical wiring, installation, stock of clothes and other objects stored in a 10 x 10 space in the structure. It is yet to ascertain the exact cause of the explosion."
The injured have been identified as Nikhil Jogesh Das (53 years), who sustained 35% burns, Rakesh Sharma (38 years) with 40% burns, Anthony Paul Thengal (65 years) 30%, Kalicharan Majilal Kanojiya (54 years) 25%, Shan Ali Zakir Ali Siddiqui (31 years) 40% burns, Samsher (50 years ) with super facial burn. While Sangeeta (32 years ) and Seeta (45 years) have minor injuries.
Sanjay Agaldhare, former corporator said, "There are several illegal garment units running in these areas with no safety measures which lead to such accidents. Two workers were in the garment units when the fire broke out. The fire was doused by the local residents, but the steam iron used for pressing clothes got heated and burst. Why are the civic officials not taking action on illegal factories here? I will protest against the BMC's H West ward on Monday."
