Nine killed in Bikaner building collapse after cylinder explosion

Three others — Sushil Soni (60), Uttam (30), and Sameer (18) — are stated to be critically injured and are undergoing treatment at the district hospital.

The explosion occurred around 11 am on Wednesday. According to police, the market primarily housed jewellery-making workshops, many of which were allegedly using illegal gas cylinders.

A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Several shopkeepers were making jewellery using small gas cylinders, which they refilled from larger ones — all without administrative approval. This illegal practice posed a serious threat to lives. We are now investigating how these shops were allowed to operate without proper fire safety licences. A gas leak caused the blast, affecting around 21 nearby shops. It is feared that gold worth lakhs may be buried in the rubble.”

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed his condolences on social media, stating: “The loss of lives in the Bikaner gas cylinder explosion is heartbreaking. Relief and rescue operations have been ongoing since the incident, and the injured are receiving proper medical care. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant peace to the departed souls and a swift recovery to the injured.”

In response to the tragedy, hundreds gathered at the Bikaner Collectorate demanding compensation for the victims’ families. Around 30 personnel from the State Disaster Response Force, along with police and five fire tenders, worked tirelessly for two days to clear the debris and recover the bodies.