Hyderabad: Two persons were killed in a massive blast caused by leaking gas from an LPG cylinder at house in the heart of Kapra municipality, killing the house owner Mohan Lal Chowdary and a passerby, Y. Ravi Kumar, 33.
Chowdary’s family members and four neighbours were injured in the explosion that blew away the walls of the first floor house at about 7.15 am on Friday. The sound of the blast was reportedly heard one km away.
The impact was such that the belongings were scattered around the building, the iron grills were found in the neighbouring buildings.
It is suspected that the explosion was caused when an inmate in the first floor tried to turn on an electric switch without realising that the gas was leaking.
Police said Chowdary was near the cylinder when the gas exploded.
He was thrown clear of the house. Ravi Kumar was riding on a two-wheeler about 100 metres when a stone from the explosion hit him fatally.
While Chowdary ran a jewellery stone in the ground floor of the building, Ravi Kumar ran a barber’s shop in the vicinity.
Chowdary’s wife Leela Devi sustain serious injuries and was stated to be in a serious condition. Their children Govind and Nikhitha had their limbs fractured.
They and the four neighbours are said to be out of danger.
Mr M. Vishwanath Reddy, who was nearby, said, “We ran into the street thinking that oxygen from cylinders at a nearby hospital had exploded. There was fear and confusion.
Ms Kanika Gupta, who lives in Sainikpuri, said, “We heard the explosion and thought that dynamite was being used to blast rocks.
Another resident, Mr K. Vikas, whose house is next to the Chowdarys’ house and was damaged, said there would have been more casualties of the blast had occurred a little later during school hours.
Police said Ravi Kumar was the sole breadwinner for his family comprising his wife, two younger sisters and his ageing mother.
He had married about two years ago.
Eyewitness Joseph said Ravi was riding his motorbile when a stone from the explosion hit him in the rear of the head. He was not wearing a helmet.
