A major explosion ripped through the kitchen of a hotel in Pune's Daund taluka on Wednesday afternoon, leaving ten workers with severe burn injuries. The blast, which occurred around 1 pm on January 7, 2026, has been attributed to the illegal stockpiling of domestic cooking gas cylinders on the premises.
Negligence Leads to Catastrophic Blast
The incident took place at Hotel Jagdamba, located on the Daund Patas Road, approximately 75 kilometers from Pune city. According to officials from the Pune rural police, the explosion was caused by the negligent storage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders. The hotel management had allegedly stocked 12 domestic LPG cylinders illegally, in addition to ten commercial cylinders, directly within the kitchen area. This dangerous accumulation of combustible material created a ticking time bomb.
Due to alleged negligence, one of the domestic cylinders exploded with tremendous force. The blast caused significant structural damage, blowing out the kitchen's roof, windows, and furniture. Deputy Superintendent of Police Bapurao Dadas confirmed the timing of the incident, stating it was reported between 12:30 and 1:00 PM. Fortunately, no customers were present in the hotel at the time of the explosion, averting a potentially higher casualty count.
Critical Injuries and Police Action
The human cost of the blast was severe. All ten injured individuals were kitchen staff members who suffered grievous burns. Police Inspector Gopal Pawar of Daund police station confirmed that several victims are in critical condition and are currently undergoing intensive treatment at Sassoon General Hospital in Pune city.
Following the incident, Police Havaldar Mahesh Bhosale filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Daund police station. The police have booked the hotel's owner and manager under multiple sections of the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges include:
- BNS sections 125 (a) and 125 (b) for acts endangering life or personal safety.
- BNS section 287 for negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter.
- BNS section 288 for negligent conduct concerning explosive substances.
- Relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act for the illegal procurement and storage of domestic LPG cylinders.
As of now, no arrests have been made, but the investigation is actively ongoing. Inspector Pawar stated that a key focus of the probe is to trace the source and timeline of the illegal procurement of the domestic cylinders.
Ongoing Investigation into Supply Chain
The police have launched a comprehensive investigation that extends beyond the immediate negligence at the hotel. A critical line of inquiry is to uncover the supply chain that allowed the hotel to amass such a large and illegal stockpile of domestic LPG cylinders. Authorities are determined to identify the distributors or agents involved in diverting domestic cylinders for unauthorized commercial use, a practice that poses a grave public safety risk.
This tragic incident in Daund has once again highlighted the deadly consequences of flouting safety norms, especially concerning highly inflammable materials like LPG. It underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement of regulations governing the storage and use of commercial gas cylinders in eateries and hospitality establishments across the region.
