Two persons were killed and three others sustained serious injuries in a massive explosion at an oxygen cylinder plant in Punjab’s Mohali district on Wednesday morning.
The explosion took place at a unit located in the Industrial Area, sending shockwaves through the locality. Following the incident, senior officials from the police and civil administration, including the sub-divisional magistrate, rushed to the site to assess the situation and oversee rescue efforts.
The injured have been shifted to the Civil Hospital in Mohali for treatment. Authorities said all three are severely injured, and their condition is being closely monitored.
The cause of the explosion is yet to be determined, and further investigation is underway.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Mohali sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Damandeep Kaur said the explosion, which occurred around 9am, was initially caused by the blast of a single oxygen cylinder.
"This morning, we received information about an oxygen cylinder explosion, and on reaching the spot, we found that two people were casualties and some were injured. The injured have been sent to the hospital and the bodies are being taken for post-mortem," she said.
Kaur added, "The explosion was very powerful, where one oxygen cylinder exploded, causing a chain reaction and nearby cylinders also exploded... Two people died and three were injured. Further investigation is underway..."
Deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Harsimran Singh Bal, who also visited the scene, identified the deceased as Asif and Devender.
{{/usCountry}}Deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Harsimran Singh Bal, who also visited the scene, identified the deceased as Asif and Devender.
{{/usCountry}}SP Sirivennela said, “In the industrial area of Phase 11, a massive blast took place at around 9 AM in an oxygen cylinder plant, killing two employees and injuring 3... A preliminary investigation is ongoing, and we are still determining the cause. There might be some leakage still...”
In a similar incident earlier this year, one person was killed in an explosion near Naushera village in Amritsar district on May 27. The blast occurred within the jurisdiction of the Kambo police station during the early hours of the day, officials said at the time.