Panicky residents protest, police confiscate 9 cylinders

The residents of Bhendi Bazaar, which has already witnessed a cylinder blast and a gas leak in a span of two days, took to the streets and demanded that any such unused cylinders be confiscated.

The residents of Bhendi Bazaar, which has already witnessed a cylinder blast and a gas leak in a span of two days, took to the streets and demanded that any such unused cylinders be confiscated.

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K Patil, senior police inspector of J J Marg police station said, “The locals demanded that all scrap shops in the area be shut down and cylinders in the area, that could pose a threat to their lives, be vacated.”

The police rushed to the spot to ensure the situation did not spiral out of control. They also confiscated nine cylinders from various shops in the area. The local Member of Legislative Assembly, Amin Patel, also had talk with the residents.

After fire brigade officials received a call about the gas leak around 10:30 on Friday, they identified the leaking cylinder and plugged the leak using a valve.

A similarly unused CNG gas cylinder had exploded, on Thursday, killing five people and injuring 26.

“Out of the total injured in the cylinder blast, 24 patients are doing fine. We plan to discharge 13 of them,” said Dr TP Lahane, Dean, JJ Hospital. One patient who suffered 65 per cent burns from the blast is still critical, he added.