NEW DELHI: Ten people were injured on Tuesday morning after a house collapsed following a suspected LPG cylinder blast in the Mukundpur-II area, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation, officials said.
One of the victims is in critical condition and shifted to Safdarjung Hospital for treatment.
According to Delhi Fire Services, they received information at 9.37 am regarding a house collapse at Gali Number-1, Ishu Vihar in Mukundpur-II.
Firefighters and rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the spot. It was found that due to the blast, a single-storey house in an area of around 250 square yards has collapsed, a DFS official said.
A total of 10 people sustained injuries in the incident and were shifted to Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital and Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital for treatment, he added.
Bhalswa Dairy police station had received a call regarding the incident where the caller reported that several people were trapped under the debris. Police reached the spot where some injured were found under the debris of the building.
Preliminary inspection has ruled out the possibility of more persons being trapped under the debris, officials said. Six people have also sustained burn injuries, and they have been referred to LNJP
and Safdarjung Hospital for further treatment. The injured have been identified as Chandan (28), Kalpana (30), Shyam (30), Vivek (40), Sofia Khatoon (25), Deepa (35), Aman (18), Akhilesh alias (38), Love (18), and Arif (47), Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North) Hareshwar Swami said.
Additionally, 38 empty cylinders have also been recovered from the spot. The premise is being used by the owner, Sudhir Rai, for utensil coating. Harkesh Bahadur, the brother of the owner, was also found to have stored gas cylinders at the premises. A case under sections 287, 125A, and 125B of the BNS and 3/7 Essential Commodity Act has been registered at Bhalswa Dairy police station, the DCP said.
Further, at the instance of Harkesh, 46 vacant gas cylinders—25 for domestic use and 21 for commercial use—have also been recovered, police officials said.
Harkesh and Rai have been apprehended. Further investigation is underway, they added. The incident comes just days after the building collapse in Saidulajab area.
No more victims
Preliminary inspection has ruled out the possibility of more persons being trapped under the debris. Six people sustained burn injuries.
Cylinder stockpile
38 empty cylinders have been recovered from the spot. The premise is being used by the owner, Sudhir Rai, for utensil coating.
