Pune: A series of explosions and a fire rocked the quiet community of Tathawade on Sunday night after multiple LPG cylinders exploded, triggering panic among local residents.
The incident occurred near JSPM College on the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway at around 11 pm.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Shivaji Pawar, the explosions were triggered by an unauthorised gas refilling operation involving propylene gas. An open space near JSPM College became the scene of chaos when gas cylinders suddenly exploded, engulfing three school buses and a tempo in flames.
Incident occurred around 11 pm
Swift action by the fire brigade prevented further escalation of the situation. Deputy Commissioner of Police Shivaji Pawar, ACP Vitthal Kubde, and Police Inspector Manoj Khandale promptly arrived at the scene to assess the situation.
Disaster Management Officer Omrakash Bahiwal and Fire Officer Rishikant Chipade were also present at the spot after the fire.
The incident occurred around 11 pm, and preliminary information suggests that four to five LPG cylinders exploded, officials said.
The tanker containing the LPG, however, remained unaffected, they added.
An official from the Pimpri Chinchwad fire department said fire tenders and water tankers were promptly dispatched to the scene, and they successfully brought the fire under control.
Residents evacuated their homes
Panic spread throughout the neighbourhood as the explosions echoed, causing residents and students from the nearby JSPM College to evacuate their homes.
An official from the Pimpri Chinchwad Fire Department said fire tenders and water tankers were promptly dispatched to the scene, and they successfully brought the fire under control around 2 am, after which the cooling operation was launched. He added that the loud explosions triggered panic among the locals.
Cause of the fire
Preliminary investigations suggest that the unauthorised gas refilling involved diverting gas from domestic 14.2kg and commercial cylinders to 21-tonne capacity propylene gas bullets belonging to May Tirupati Carrier. It is suspected that gas leakage may have triggered the fire, leading to the hasty retreat of those involved in the operation.
Out of the 27 cylinders found at the scene, nine had already exploded, while eight were leaking dangerous gas. No injuries or casualties were reported. Firefighting vehicles from various stations of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation's Fire Brigade Department, PMRDA, and MIDC areas rushed to the scene, successfully containing the fire.
