Ahmedabad: Three persons were injured and at least six vehicles were damaged after an LPG cylinder blast at a gas agency triggered a major fire near Geeta Mandir on Friday evening. Fire control officials received a distress call at 4.41pm, prompting a massive emergency response from the fire brigade and police.
Multiple fire tenders, ambulances and senior fire officers rushed to the spot. According to officials, the blaze was brought under control before it could spread to adjoining structures in the densely populated commercial area. Mayor Hitesh Barot and standing committee chairman Kamlesh Patel later visited the site to assess the situation.
The intensity of the blaze forced authorities to temporarily close the road connecting Astodia Gate and Geeta Mandir bus stand. The injured were identified as Akash Bhavsar, the owner of the agency, Abdul Kureshi and Mohammed Bhatti. All three sustained burn injuries and were shifted to hospital for treatment. Officials said there was no loss of life.
According to fire department sources, preliminary findings suggest that a gas leak may have triggered the fire, which caused the explosion. Investigators are also probing allegations that liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) was being illegally transferred from larger commercial cylinders into smaller cylinders at the premises. A nozzle allegedly attached to a cylinder used for refilling was found during the initial inspection.
Firefighters removed the remaining cylinders from the premises and continued spraying water on them to prevent further explosions. The agency reportedly stored between 60 and 70 domestic and commercial LPG cylinders. Witnesses said panic gripped the area as flames and thick smoke engulfed the shop.
Officials noted that the agency operated from the ground floor of an old building housing residents and several businesses. Fire officers said that had the response been delayed by even a few minutes, the fire could have spread to the entire structure and caused significant casualties. Kagdapith police launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the blast and whether any safety violations or illegal refilling activities were involved.
Fire at TRP Mall
Ahmedabad: A blaze erupted at Shop No. 61 on the ground floor of TRP Mall in South Bopal around 10.23pm on Friday, prompting authorities to rush a mini fighter and two Gajraj fire tenders from the Bopal fire station to the spot. Firefighters launched operations immediately to prevent the flames from spreading to adjoining shops. Officials later said the fire was brought under control. No casualties or injuries were reported till late night.
