2 siblings succumb to injuries sustained in CNG cylinder blast in Northeast Delhi

The police said the explosion took place at around 4.33 pm Saturday at the godown, leaving the three children, and a worker with severe burn injuries. The police said that the blast took place during a repair operation inside the godown, which was reportedly being used to store and repair old CNG cylinders.

Initial reports indicate that the CNG cylinders were stored on the ground floor of a four-storey residential building. One of the cylinders exploded during repair work, leading to the injuries.

The impact of the explosion was such that it shattered the iron gate of the premises, injuring three brothers, Raja, 3, Sakib, 7, and Abbas, 9, who were playing outside. The worker, identified as Arshad, 22, suffered major burn injuries. All four injured were rushed to GTB Hospital for urgent medical care.

Doctors at the GTB Hospital said the three children sustained critical burns, with Sakib suffering 90 per cent burns, Abbas 85 per cent, and Raja 85 per cent. Arshad suffered approximately 70 per cent burns, they added.

Following the blast, two fire tenders were dispatched to the spot by the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) to prevent further damage and ensure safety.

Videos from the Delhi Fire Services showed the ground floor godown containing the Compressed Natural Gas cylinders. An iron gate, which originally provided an entryway into the godown, can be seen several feet away from the building after the blast.

The police said Crime and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams are examining the site to ascertain the exact cause and circumstances of the incident. “Legal action has been initiated against the owner of the godown, and further investigation is underway,” said a police officer.