Diesel stock intensifies fire caused by cylinder blast, woman & son killed

Ambala: A devastating cylinder blast in Ambala's Friends Colony on Thursday led to a massive fire, claiming two lives of a 1.5-year-old boy and his 31-year-old mother, and leaving his 13-year-old sister critically injured. The deceased were identified as Ekta and her son Priyansh, while her daughter Tanushka is critically injured. Officials confirmed that the blaze intensified due to a large quantity of diesel stored inside the house, turning the incident into a major tragedy. Firefighters have since brought the fire under control, but the house was gutted. According to eyewitnesses, the house was being used for making ‘gachak' (sweet made of peanuts and jaggery), when a loud explosion shook the area. The impact triggered flames that shot high into the sky, fuelled by the diesel stored in drums. Neighbours reported seeing the house engulfed in flames within minutes, and the fire quickly spread to an adjacent property before the blaze could be contained. Fire brigade teams rescued the three occupants trapped inside and rushed them to the civil hospital. Despite receiving medical care, the child and the woman succumbed to their injuries. The injured teenaged girl has since been referred to PGIMER, Chandigarh, for advanced treatment. Dr Aditi from the civil hospital, Ambala City, said the victims suffered severe burn injuries. SDM Darshan Kumar, who reached the site, said preliminary findings indicate that the fire was caused by a cylinder blast. "An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause," he noted. Fire brigade officials informed that four fire tenders were pressed into service. "We received information about a cylinder blast. Four vehicles were dispatched one after another, and the fire was brought under control. Three people trapped inside were rescued," an officer said. Officials are continuing to probe the circumstances leading up to the blast and the large stock of diesel inside the residential premises. The investigation officer from Ambala City police station, Roshan, said a probe was still on to find out if the family was operating a gachak unit being run in the residential area. End of Article