Mother, son killed, 32 hurt in cylinder blast in Ludhiana
LUDHIANA: A gas cylinder exploded in a labour colony in Giaspura area of the city on Thursday morning, killing a woman and her 14-year-old son and injuring 32 people, 15 of whom are stated to be critical.
The cylinder explosion took place at 6.45am in a house belonging to Ashok Kumar Yadav in Samrat Colony. The gas cylinder caught fire and when Ashok, his wife and some neighbours tried to put out the flames, the cylinder exploded causing injuries to those who had gathered around the spot. A wall of the building also collapsed, police said.
Sunita Rani Yadav, 40, of Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh, suffered 100% burns and died in the evening at Christian Medical College and Hospital. Her son Raj too died in the hospital at night. Sunita’s husband and two daughters received critical injuries. Sunita’s brother-inlaw, Dharmendra, the only surviving resident in the house where the blast occurred, had gone to buy milk. The house is surrounding by “vehras”, inhabited by labourers.
Two victims have been referred to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, in a critical condition.
Ludhiana mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu has announced free treatment to all patients.
“I was shocked seeing people caught in flames and crying for help. Police were informed and rescue operation was initiated with the help of locals,” said Dharminder, adding that the fire brigade reached the spot at 8am. By then, the flames had been doused, he said. Focal Point station house officer Amandeep Singh Brar said instead of waiting for ambulances, some victims were taken to the hospital in police vehicles. “The LPG cylinder at Ashok’s house was leaking. After the electricity supply to the area was restored at 6. 45am after a brief power cut, the cylinder caught fire,” the SHO said.
Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM, east) Amarjit Bains said the administration has contacted the gas company to provide insurance cover to the victims.
LUDHIANA: The sudden rush of the injured at the local civil hospital after a cylinder blast in a house in the Focal Point area on Thursday exposed the hospital’s illequipped burn unit which has only four beds.
There are only two senior doctors posted at the civil hospital to treat the patients suffering from burn injuries. There are no super specialists at the civil hospital. Two people died while 33 people, including nine women and five children, suffered burn injuries in the incident.
As the number of injured mounted, the hospital authorities converted the dengue and swine flu wards into a critical care unit.The civil hospital referred 14 seriously injured patients to the Christian Medical College and Hospital as it does not have the capability to treat those with critical burn injuries.
Though a team of senior doctors, including the SMO, reached the hospital about 7.30 am to treat the injured, lack of infrastructure made it difficult.
Rakesh, a relative of an injured said bed sheets were not available at the ward.
Dr Milan Verma, surgeon, civil hospital, said, “We have a 20-bedded hall which is used for such disasters. We have provided best possible treatment.”
CARS, BIKES, TEMPOS USED TO FERRY INJURED
Saving precious moments, police officials and local residents ferried the injured in Thursday’s cylinder blast in the Focal Point area to the local civil hospital in their own vehicles.
“We rushed the injured in PCRs and other vehicles rather than waiting for ambulances which reached after 20 minutes of being informed,” said Focal Point SHO Amandeep Brar.
There are 13 ambulances in the district and the 108-service is operated from Amritsar. Mohammad Ali, an injured, was brought to the civil hospital on a bike.
Some injured were taken to hospital in police vehicles allotted to ACP (south) Dharampal Singh and SHO Brar.
₹1 LAKH EX GRATIA FOR DECEASED’S KIN
CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh has announced an ex gratia of ₹ 1 lakh for the kin of the woman killed. The CM has also ordered an inquiry.