House collapses in Faridabad after cylinder explosion, 4 killed
The incident occurred at about 2:15am when Sarjeet, Babita and Nakul were asleep on the first floor of their house. A gas leak in the room resulted in a massive cylinder explosion that led to the roof of the house collapsing. The family were buried under the debris, police said
Gurugram: Four people were killed when their house collapsed following a cylinder blast in Faridabad’s Bhakri village, early on Friday morning, police said, adding that several other family members also suffered minor injuries.
Four people were killed when their house collapsed following a cylinder blast in Faridabad’s Bhakri village, early on Friday morning. (PARVEEN KUMAR/HT PHOTO)
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Investigators identified the deceased as Sarjeet Singh (53), his wife Babita Devi (48), their grandson Nakul Kumar (12) and Laxmi Kumari (32), a neighbour. The bodies of the victims were handed over to the family after post-mortem examinations were completed. According to the police, it was the 12-year-old boy’s birthday on Friday.
The incident occurred at about 2:15am when Sarjeet, Babita and Nakul were asleep on the first floor of their house. A gas leak in the room resulted in a massive cylinder explosion that led to the roof of the house collapsing. The family were buried under the debris, police said.
Laxmi, who was sleeping with her son on the roof of the adjacent house, was also hit by the debris from the blast. She was pulled out and taken to a hospital, but she could not be saved, according to the police.
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Two cattle were also killed in the explosion, they said.
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Two cattle were also killed in the explosion, they said.
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A senior police official confirmed that a case has been registered under Section 194 of the IPC (negligence with explosive substances) and further investigation is in progress.
According to Bhopal Singh, Sarjeet’s nephew, the village had experienced a power outage shortly before the incident. When the power was restored, it may have triggered a short circuit leading to the explosion due to gas leak from the cylinder, he said.
Locals, along with police and rescue teams, rushed to the scene following the blast. Rescue efforts continued for over an hour before the bodies of the deceased were retrieved from the rubble.
“We have handed over the bodies to the family after post-mortem. The exact cause of the cylinder blast is yet to be determined and investigations are ongoing,” said Vidya Sagar, SHO of Dabua police station.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
