Four Injured in Mysterious Daltonganj Blast; 45 LPG Cylinders Found in Basement
A suspected LPG cylinder explosion followed by a fire in the basement of a house at Bairya More in Daltonganj on Sunday afternoon left four people with multiple burn injuries, according to local authorities. The incident occurred around 2:30 pm, sending shockwaves through the residential and commercial area.
Loud Explosion Shakes Neighborhood
A local resident described the explosion as so loud that the surrounding area almost shook from the impact. However, officials have stated that the exact cause of the blast and the number of cylinders involved remain unclear at this stage.
Firefighters Contain Intense Blaze
Palamu district fire officer Albert Tigga reported that fire tenders were rushed to the spot immediately. The fire was intense, but we managed to contain it before it could spread to adjacent buildings, Tigga said. He added a puzzling detail: although they received information about an LPG cylinder blast, no wreckage or debris of any cylinder was found at the site.
We found around 35–45 cylinders stacked in the basement, but it is yet to be ascertained whether they were empty or filled, Tigga explained, highlighting the mysterious nature of the incident.
Police Investigation Reveals Illegal Storage
Deputy superintendent of police (Sadar) Rajeev Ranjan confirmed that police could not find any pieces of a cylinder at the site. Town police station officer-in-charge Jyoti Lal Rajwar identified the four injured individuals as Dharmender, Mukesh, Alok and Vikram, who were reportedly present in the basement during the incident.
All four were initially taken to MMCH Daltonganj for treatment. Later, Mukesh, Alok and Vikram were shifted to a multi-speciality hospital in Nawa Toli for advanced care, while Dharmender remained at MMCH.
Rajwar revealed that the cylinders belonged to a Kutmu-based gas agency under the Bishrampur police sub-division and were allegedly stored illegally. The storage and trading of cylinders at the site appear to be illegal, he stated, pointing to potential regulatory violations.
Safety Violations Under Scrutiny
Police said the exact cause of the explosion and fire is yet to be ascertained through detailed investigation. Preliminary findings indicate several serious safety violations, including:
- Storage of LPG cylinders in an unventilated basement
- Location in a congested residential and commercial area
- Absence of proper fire safety measures
- Potential illegal storage and trading operations
The incident has raised concerns about safety protocols and regulatory enforcement in the region, particularly regarding the storage of hazardous materials in populated areas.
