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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/11-injured-in-Vikhroli-firecaused-by-cylinder-leak/articleshow/49434841.cms
Date
17 Oct, 2015.India
11 injured in Vikhroli fire caused by cylinder leak
Updated: 2015-10-17-23:40
A leaking gas cylinder caused a fire on Saturday morning at Vikhroli, injuring 11 people, four of whom
are critical. The ground-plus-one structure at Parksite in Vikhroli was in an uphill area, making it difficult
for fire tenders, water tankers and ambulances to reach the spot. The injured are admitted across
various civic run hospitals in the city.
An explosion occured around 11.58am on Saturday, at a residential settlement at Vikhroli's Ambedkar
Society. Nitin Wankhede, 18, a local who works in an online food chain, said two women who lived on
the first floor of the chawl jumped to escape the fire while others in a nearby chawl vacated their rooms.
Three fire engines, water tankers and two ambulances from Vikhroli and Kurla fire stations reached the
spot. A fire official said by till the time they reached the locals had managed to pull out all the injured
from the building.
Rajendra Kulkarni, senior inspector of Parksite police station said, "It was difficult process to bring the
fire tenders and tankers to the accident spot because of congestion. Prima facie it seems that there was
a fault in the gas cylinder knob leading to leakage." However, an HP official said, "The user forgot to
switch off the knob of the stove after one cylinder was used up. Thereafter, a full cylinder was
connected to the stove whose knob was still on. As a result, gas got accumulated above the platform.
When a lighter or match stick was lit, it caused a huge fire."
Locals said the accident occurred in paan shop owner Lalji Chauhan's home. His family members had
burn injuries ranging from 20% to 80% and were admitted to three BMC-run hospitals across the city.
His 50-year-old wife Vimala is critical with 80% burns and was transferred to Sion Hospital late in the
evening. His niece, 12-year-old Sapna, sustained around 85% burns and was transferred to Kasturba
Hospital near Saat Rasta earlier in the day. His sons, 17-year-old Ankit and 10-year-old Saurabh are
relatively better with 30% and 20% degree burns respectively and have been admitted to Rajawadi
Hospital, Ghatkopar. "I was away at my shop which is some distance away from my home. My sons are
able to communicate well and doctors said they are okay," Lalji told TOI. "As my niece is barely 12 years
old, doctors at Rajawadi Hospital said she needs special care and they have sent her to Kasturba," he
added. Kasturba Hospital doctors said Sapna was in a critical state. Dr Vidya Thakur, medical
superintendent of Rajawadi Hospital, said, "Four of the eight patients brought to our hospital from the
blast site are very critical." She said any patient with over 40% burns is considered to be critical.
The blast also affected some neighbours and passers-by who tried to help. Santosh Shinde, a neigbour
who rushed to save the family, sustained 60% burns and is in Rajawadi's burns ward, while 45-year-old
Devman Singh, another local who also went in to save the Chauhans, was injured and was transferred
from Rajawadi to Sion Hospital as he had head injuries besides burns. "He has 80% burns and his brain
matter is coming out from his skull. He is on ventilator support and his general condition is poor," said
Sion hospital dean Dr Suleman Merchant. Rahul and Suman Danawale too are admitted at Rajawadi
Hospital with minor burn injuries. Two other locals, Vishal Nagwan, 25 and Vijay Sawant, 37, suffered
abrasions and were treated on a OPD basis while another passerby Meera More, 65 sustained a fracture.