March 24, Dharavi: A terrifying blaze erupted in Mumbai’s densely populated Dharavi area late Monday evening after a truck loaded with cooking gas cylinders exploded. The incident, which shot flames into the night sky, occurred around 9:50 pm near the Maharashtra Nature Park along the busy Sion-Dharavi Link Road.
Eyewitnesses described a series of loud blasts as cylinders detonated one after another in the PNGP Colony area. “The explosions sounded like bombs going off,” said a local shopkeeper who asked not to be named. “Within minutes, the entire truck was engulfed in flames.”
Miraculously, no injuries were reported despite the intensity of the fire. However, four vehicles parked near the ill-fated truck were completely gutted in the incident. Firefighters battled the flames for nearly two hours before bringing the situation under control.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Santosh Sawant explained, “These were domestic LPG cylinders meant for home deliveries. One cylinder exploded first, which then triggered the others.” Authorities have identified the truck driver and are conducting searches to apprehend him as investigations continue.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about the transportation of hazardous materials through crowded residential areas. Residents expressed relief that the fire didn’t spread to nearby slum dwellings, which could have led to catastrophic consequences in one of Asia’s most densely populated urban areas.
Fire department officials are conducting a thorough probe to determine whether safety protocols were violated in the transportation of the gas cylinders. Meanwhile, traffic police had to divert vehicles for several hours as emergency crews worked at the scene.
This marks the third such cylinder-related fire incident in Mumbai this year, putting pressure on authorities to review safety measures for flammable material transport in the city.
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