Gas Leak Causes Huge Explosion in Faridabad; 1 Dead

Faridabad:  A gas pipeline leak triggered a huge explosion in Palwal, Haryana , on Tuesday, resulting in one death and three injuries, officials said.

Several shops, including a three-storey building, were completely destroyed in the fire, along with damage to multiple vehicles, including a JCB. The total loss is estimated to be in crores. Four fire brigade vehicles took two hours to control the blaze, officials said.

Police and other officials reached the spot to mobilized the crowd.

Police said a 10-feet long, 8-feet wide pit was dug with an excavator to repair a water pipeline leak around noon on Tuesday. After fixing the leak, all public health department workers exited the pit.

While the pit was being refilled with the JCB, a PNG pipeline nearby got damaged and started leaking rapidly. Before people could react, the gas from the stove of the teashop likely caught fire and exploded, police said.

This led to a stampede among the shopkeepers and other people, they said.

During the stampede, tea shopkeeper Harichand Singla (50), a resident of Shiv Vihar Colony, Palwal fell into the pit and the flames engulfed him.

Police said 30-feet high flames were seen at the spot. Later, the the cylinder kept at the tea shop also exploded. Two public health department employees Veeru and Ramkumar received burn injuries and were sent to a private hospital.

After the fire stopped, Singla's body was taken out of the pit and sent for post-mortem, police said.

Goods worth crores kept in two shops -- Jain Battery and Ricoh Battery -- were burnt in the fire. The JCB, six bikes and other items were also burnt to ashes, they said.

A senior police officer said that the situation is now under control and all injured are being treated, and added that an inquiry has been initiated into the explosion.

After the fire, traffic on the Old GT Road was stopped and was diverted to other roads. A traffic jam was seen from Agra Chowk to New Sohna Road on the Old Sohna chowk. Traffic was resumed after 4 pm.

(with agency inputs)