A devastating fire broke out on Monday at a building on the outskirts of H Kalpanahalli in Davanagere taluk, where cooking gas cylinders were being stored illegally. The incident resulted in more than 15 cylinder explosions, leaving one person injured. The injured individual, identified as 30-year-old Anil, was rushed to Chigateri District Hospital for medical treatment.
Explosions and Damage
The explosions were so powerful that cylinders were hurled up to 200 meters away, and the building's roof was completely blown off. The storage site was located in an areca plantation owned by Doggalli Shivakumar, and Anil had rented the space. Authorities suspect that cylinders were being stored illegally and sold on the black market.
Eyewitness Account
The fire is believed to have started around 2 pm, triggering a series of rapid explosions that caused panic among workers in nearby fields. Several cylinders landed in plantations, near a canal, and close to residential areas. Eyewitness Nagaraj recounted, "I had just returned from farm work, had lunch, and was resting when we heard a loud explosion. We rushed outside and saw flames and smoke rising high. Cylinders were bursting like bombs."
Response and Aftermath
Villagers, too frightened to approach the site, alerted the fire and emergency services. Firefighting operations began around 2:30 pm and continued until 6 pm, successfully containing the blaze. Investigations are underway to determine the full extent of the illegal operation and any further safety violations.
