A fire broke out after a blast in three gas cylinders at the market near Varanasi Cantt due to leakage, though there are no reports of any injuries, a police official said. The incident caused panic in the area; however, the fire brigade team arrived on time and successfully brought the fire under control. Fire Station Incharge Deepak Kumar Singh said, "At around 8 AM, information was received that a fire had broken out beneath the overbridge in front of the station. Later, 3-4 more calls came in reporting cylinder explosions. Meanwhile, fire brigade vehicles were being dispatched to the scene." Dramatic visuals of the blaze also surfaced online. In the visuals, massive flames could be seen billowing out of the area, with thick black smoke rising into the sky, creating an ominous atmosphere. The fire brigade worked tirelessly, battling the fierce flames and ensuring the safety of nearby shops and residents. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the gas leakage and the subsequent explosions. Thankfully, no casualties were reported, and the situation was brought under control without further incident. Meanwhile, it was the second fire incident in Uttar Pradesh which has been reported in a span of 6 days. A gas agency truck caught fire in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district on Monday afternoon, triggering a series of explosions in more than 300 LPG cylinders loaded on it.
No casualties were reported in the incident, but frightened villagers evacuated the area near the gas agency warehouse, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mukesh Chandra Mishra said.He said the truck carrying more than 345 LPG cylinders, owned by Mahalaxmi Gas Agency, caught fire due to unidentified reasons near Rajau Parsapur village in Bithri Chainpur area. The blaze led to successive explosions in the cylinders, creating panic in the surrounding villages, he said.Upon receiving information, police and fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and managed to douse the flames after about two-and-a-half hours of efforts, he added. Locals said the explosions were heard up to three kilometers away, and cylinder fragments were found scattered in fields nearly half a kilometre from the site.
A smiliar incident was reported in the Dharavi area of Mumbai as well. On the night of March 24, a large truck and other vehicles were parked in a double parking lot on the north side of LBS Road, Dharavi, near Nisargadiya. The truck was carrying a significant number of LPG gas cylinders. The police stated that parking a vehicle loaded with flammable materials in an inadequate space on a public road was extremely dangerous and negligent, leading to the registration of a case. Mahendra Vasa Valvi has filed a complaint at the Dharavi police station, stating,
"My vehicle and other vehicles have also been severely damaged. Therefore, strict action should be taken against the culprits. "The Dharavi police assured that the investigation into the incident is being prioritised. Efforts are underway to arrest the accused by collecting the CCTV footage from the scene, recording statements from locals, and gathering technical evidence. The police confirmed that all the accused are currently absconding, and a special team has been formed to locate them. Following this incident, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Fire Department, and Police launched an inspection of gas-supplying agencies and gas-transporting vehicles across the city. Authorities emphasised that such negligence is a punishable offence under the law.The accused have been charged with endangering public life and property by parking vehicles carrying flammable substances on a public road. If found guilty, they may face strict punishment under Sections 285 (dangerous conduct), 287 (negligence in connection with machinery), and 288 (creating danger on a public road) of the Indian Penal Code.