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A massive fire was reported in the Tathawade area on Sunday night after a few gas cylinders exploded, causing at least four buses parked nearby to catch fire.
There were no reports of casualties in the incident till the time of going to print. According to officials from the Pimpri-Chinchwad police, the fire brigade and emergency response services received information of at least four major blasts of gas cylinders in Tathawade area around 11.15pm on Sunday.
The impact of the blast was such many residents in the area rushed out of their houses and residential complexes. An officer from Pimpri Chinchwad police said, “Primary facie, there were back-to-back four blasts of gas cylinders that were stacked next to each other. We have reasons to believe these gas cylinders were being refilled. There was a gas tanker standing next to the location where the blasts took place. Fortunately, the tanker did not explode in the fire.”
Another officer from Pimpri Chinchwad police, who reached the spot, said, “Initial probe suggests the cylinders, that were stacked on a truck, were being filled with propylene gas from the tanker when the blasts occurred. The fire brigade brought the fire under control and prima facie, there are no casualties.”
Propylene, also known as propene, is a flammable hydrocarbon gas, which has extensive industrial usage. “We are looking for the people who were involved in this filling business. We have reasons to believe that the gas filling was being done illegally and the people involved may have fled the spot after the blasts,” said the second police officer.
