Gas Leak Causes Huge Explosion in Faridabad; 1 Dead

Faridab:  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 fire, along with dam to multiple vehicles, including a JCB. total loss is estimated to be in crores. Four fire brige vehicles took two hours to control blaze, officials said.

Police and or officials reached spot to mobilized crowd.

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

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

This led to a stampede among shopkeepers and or people, y said.

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

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

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

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

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

After fire, traffic on Old GT Ro was stopped and was diverted to or ros. A traffic jam was seen from Agra Chowk to New Sohna Ro on Old Sohna chowk. Traffic was resumed after 4 pm.

(with ncy inputs)