A gas cylinder explosion at a house in Pathar Pratima, South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, claimed seven lives, including four children and two women, on Monday night. The blast occurred around 9 pm in Dholaghat village, also injuring a woman who has been hospitalised.
STORY | 7 people, including 4 children, killed in gas cylinder blast in Bengal
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According to Sunderban Police District SP Koteswara Rao, all bodies have been recovered, and investigations are underway.
Preliminary findings suggest that two gas cylinders were present in the house, and the fire intensified after stored firecrackers ignited. “The blaze spread after the firecrackers ignited,” said Sunderban Police District SP Koteswara Rao, as quoted by PTI. Further details awaited.
In a separate incident, a gas cylinder blast triggered a fire at a night market near Varanasi Cantt railway station on Monday morning, damaging multiple shops. However, no casualties were reported, police said.
Sigra police station house officer Sanjay Kumar Mishra stated that the explosion occurred near pillar number 59 in front of the railway station. “Upon receiving information, firemen and police rushed to the spot and doused the flames after some effort,” Mishra told PTI.