Tragedy struck Delhi’s Madanpur Khadar area when a suspected LPG cylinder blast ignited a raging fire in a JJ Colony home, critically injuring a woman and burning her husband and son. The early morning hours of February 21 turned nightmarish for the modest household.
Eyewitnesses described a deafening boom that shattered the quiet night, followed by billowing smoke from DD No. 13A. Kalindi Kunj police arrived swiftly after a PCR alert, battling the blaze and extracting the trapped family members.
The family patriarch, 52-year-old daily laborer Jagdish, his spouse Lakshmi, 48, and their 26-year-old son Jotish, employed at a Noida salon, were caught off-guard while sleeping. Preliminary probes suggest a gas leakage led to the explosion, but officials caution that technical analysis is ongoing.
Paramedics airlifted Lakshmi to AIIMS in serious shape, while the others received initial treatment nearby before all were moved to Safdarjung’s burn unit. Medical updates indicate the men are out of immediate peril, contrasting Lakshmi’s precarious health.
Forensic teams meticulously examined the wreckage, with the site cordoned off. Police have initiated an FIR, vowing to uncover lapses in gas safety protocols. This incident highlights vulnerabilities in informal settlements where substandard infrastructure amplifies everyday hazards.
Community leaders are rallying for aid, pressing for comprehensive audits of LPG installations across similar colonies to avert future disasters.