Gujarat: Seven from MP dead in fire, explosion caused by LPG cylinder leakage

By PTI
AHMEDABAD: Seven persons have succumbed to the burn injuries after leakage of gas from an LPG cylinder triggered fire and explosion inside a room on the outskirts of Gujarat’s Ahmedabad city, police have said.

The incident took place on Tuesday night (July 20), but the victims – labourers and their family members – died over the last couple of days during treatment, said S S Gameti, sub-inspector of Aslali police station in Ahmedabad rural on Friday.

Besides men, the deceased included children and women, he added.

“Some labourers working in a factory and their family members were sleeping in a small room when gas from their LPG cylinder started leaking on the night of July 20.

When their neighbour knocked on their door to alert them, a labourer got up and switched on the light, which caused an explosion due to concentration of gas,” Gameti said.

“Ten persons were sleeping there at that time and all of them received severe burn injuries as fire engulfed the room. While three persons died during their treatment on Thursday, four others succumbed to the injuries at a hospital on Friday,” he said.

Three persons are undergoing treatment, the official added.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced a financial assistance of Rs four lakh each to the next kin of the victim.

The deceased persons belonged to Madhusudangarh in Guna district of Madhya Pradesh, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said in a statement.

According Gujarat police, these deceased included male labourers and their family members, including children.

“Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has expressed deep condolences on the death of seven workers of Madhusudangarh (MP’s Guna district) due to gas leak in Ahmedabad. Chouhan has directed a financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh to the injured besides free treatment to them,” the CMO said.

Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai C Patel also expressed grief over the death of workers.

Praying for the departed souls and for strength to the bereaved families, Patel wished a speedy recovery to the injured, the governor’s office said.

The incident had taken place on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on Tuesday night (July 20), but the victims died over the last couple of days during treatment, Gujarat police have said.