97 LPG cylinders in trucks explode at Mira Rd

Polics book gas distributor, truck driver and plot owner; no arrests so far

Panic gripped the Ram Nagar area of Mira Road after a mysterious fire broke out in LPG-cylinder laden trucks which were parked in an open ground amidst a cluster of residential buildings at around 2 am on Monday.

Deafening explosions awoke residents after seven cylinders went up in flames, as many of them crashed as far as 500 meters away from the accident site. While three people were injured in the incident, both the trucks loaded with LPG cylinders of HP and Bharat Gas company were reduced to a heap of mangled remains due to the massive fire coupled by multiple explosions.

“We received the call at around 2 am following which our teams reached the spot. It took around two hours for our 53 fire fighters and to douse the fire following another couple of hours to carry out the cooling operations. While filled LPG cylinders were kept on one truck, the other carried empty ones. A pick-up van was also damaged in the fire. Process was underway to issue notices to the concer ned gas agency,” said chief fire officer- Prakash Borade.

“We have booked the truck driver, owner of the gas distributing agency and the plot owner for negligent conduct with respect to fire and combustible matter while endangering human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person.” said Senior Police Inspector- Sanjay Hazare.