Pune : Explosion Of Gas Cylinders Ignites School Buses In Tathawade, No Injuries Reported

In a harrowing incident that unfolded in Tathawade, Pune, a series of gas cylinder explosions jolted the area on Sunday night, resulting in a raging fire that engulfed several school buses parked nearby. Remarkably, no casualties have been reported in connection with this unsettling occurrence.

The Pimpri-Chinchwad police, in conjunction with the fire brigade and emergency response units, received alarming reports of multiple gas cylinder explosions in the Tathawade vicinity around 11:15 pm on Sunday. The impact of fire was so extreme that the school buses of Blossom Public School in Tathawade were damaged completely in the incident.

Rushikesh Chipade, Chief of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation Fire Department, revealed that the incident occurred due to the illegal filling of 21 tonnes of propylene gas, owned by M/s Tirupati Courier, into 14.2 kg domestic and commercial cylinders. A gas leak triggered the massive fire, yet fortunately, no injuries resulted from the accident.

Out of a total of 27 cylinders on the scene, 9 exploded, while 10 remained full, and one exhibited signs of swelling. The remaining 8 were fully intact while one showed signs of swelling. The sheer force of the blasts prompted numerous residents in the vicinity to swiftly evacuate their homes and residential complexes out of fear.

A spokesperson from the Pimpri-Chinchwad police department shed light on the preliminary findings, stating, “Initial investigations indicate a sequence of successive gas cylinder explosions, with the cylinders seemingly stacked in close proximity. It is suspected that these cylinders were in the process of being refilled, and notably, a gas tanker was positioned nearby during the incident. Fortunately, the tanker remained unscathed by the flames.”

Subsequent inquiries revealed that the cylinders, loaded onto a truck, were likely undergoing a propylene gas filling procedure from the adjacent tanker when the explosions erupted. The prompt response from the fire brigade effectively subdued the inferno, and thankfully, there were no reported injuries or casualties stemming from the incident.

Propylene, also known as propene, is a highly flammable hydrocarbon gas extensively employed in various industrial applications.

Given the circumstances, authorities are actively pursuing leads to identify those responsible for the gas filling operation. Initial suspicions suggest that the gas refilling may have been conducted illicitly, and it is believed that those involved in the operation may have fled the scene following the series of explosions.

Pune : Explosion Of Gas Cylinders Ignites School Buses In Tathawade, No Injuries Reported
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