Tanker explosion in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur kills two, injures dozens

Rescue operations began immediately, with the injured taken to the Civil Hospital in Hoshiarpur. Critically wounded patients were later referred to larger medical institutes, officials said. Additional doctors and paramedical staff were deployed, and senior officials, including the civil surgeon, were placed in charge of medical arrangements.

Fire brigades from Dasuya, Phagwara and Jalandhar joined local responders to contain the flames. The highway was sealed off, and the State Disaster Response Force was dispatched to monitor the situation.

Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain ordered depot officials to check for any traces of gas leakage. She urged residents to stay away from the accident site and cooperate with authorities.

Cabinet Minister Dr Ravjot Singh, who reached the scene along with other senior officials, while describing the tragedy, said: “The situation is beyond words. This is a very tragic incident. Wherever we suspect people might still be inside, we are shifting them to the Civil Hospital. A large number of injured have already been moved there, though we do not yet have the exact count.”

Singh added that the impact of the collision led to widespread panic. “The blast was so powerful that it was heard within a radius of 5-7 km, shaking nearby houses. Gas leaked into people’s homes, and wherever it spread, fires broke out. People panicked and began running for safety. Police and administration teams reached the spot immediately, evacuated residents, and began rushing the injured to hospitals.”

An injured resident compared the explosion to a bomb. “As soon as the tanker overturned, there was an explosion like a bomb blast,” he said. “Before anyone could understand what had happened, gas started leaking from the tanker. Within moments, flames erupted and engulfed the entire village. Six members of my family were also caught in the fire.”