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Ghaziabad shops, cars damaged in blasts as truck carrying gas cylinders catches fire
Firefighters were initially unable to approach the truck as the cylinders continued to explode but have managed to control the fire
An large-scale fire broke out in the Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh in a truck carrying gas cylinders that causes a series of blasts, reported ANI.
The incident took place at Bhopura Chowk on Delhi-Wazirabad Road in the Thana Teela Mod area. Councillor Om Pal Bhatti told ANI that the fire had occurred around 3:30 am. He added that the police and fire brigade personnel had managed to control the fire.
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No casualties or injuries have been reported as of now. The reason for the fire has not been ascertained yet.
Chief fire officer Rahul Pal, firefighters and employees were all present on the scene, however initially firefighters were unable to approach the blaze due to the continuing explosions.
The CFO said, “Around 4.35 am we received information regarding a fire broke out in a truck laden with LPG cylinders. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The police vacated the nearby houses.”
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The fire had spread to 2-3 houses and some vehicles. The fire has been completely doused," he added. He also said that the sound of the large-scale cylinder blast could be heard for several kilometres in the vicinity.
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Locals claimed that the blasts caused damage to property around the area and also increased panic among residents. They told ANI that a nearby wooden godown and a house had been affected. A nearby hotel was also reportedly damaged, with all its mirrors broken from the impact of the blast.
Sachin, who lives near the scene of the incident said, "We suddenly heard loud explosions around 3-3.30 am. We rushed out of the house along with our children. The explosions in cylinders kept happening. Our house is in such bad shape now. Windows of the car have shattered. Cylinders that were thrown up in the air have landed at our house. The grills to the terrace are broken. Shutters of our shop and water tanker are damaged."
A fire on a smaller scale had occurred in Prayagraj, earlier this month, due to the explosion of three cooking gas cylinders. There were no casualties recorded in the incident.
On January 30, in the Chatnag Ghat Police Station area in Prayagraj, another fire broke out among 15 tents erected in an open space. Fire officials arrived at the scene and the fire was soon doused.
Uttar Pradesh fire department official Pramod Sharma said that the tents were unauthorised.
