3 min readPuneJun 5, 2026 07:55 PM IST
First published on: Jun 5, 2026 at 02:22 PM IST
Written by Vishakha Toshniwal
A Pune techie and his parents died, while his daughter had a miraculous escape, after a leak from a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder resulted in a blast at their house in Kharadi on Friday morning.
The police identified the deceased persons as Pandurang Vishnu Gite, 35, his father, Vishnu Munjaji Gite, 60, and mother Vrundavani, 55.
His wife Rajashree, 25, survived as she was away from the spot where the explosion took place. His five-year-old daughter Niharika survived after jumping from the first floor balcony, where a resident caught her, saving her life. Niharika sustained injuries in the incident, police said.
Fire officer Datta Satav said the Pune Fire Brigade received a call about the explosion at a house in Fortune City, Khandve Nagar in Kharadi area around 9.15 am.
Soon, a fire brigade team reached the spot with a fire tender and water tankers. The firemen doused the flames, and the injured were taken to a hospital in an ambulance, he added.
“Prima facie, it is learnt that the explosion took place when the victims were replacing an empty domestic LPG cylinder with a refilled one.
The LPG may have leaked during the process and exploded after coming in contact with fire,” Senior Fire Officer Pramod Sonawane said.
Senior Police Inspector Sanjay Chavan of Kharadi police station said, “All three victims were taken to Sassoon hospital, but they were later pronounced dead by doctors. A probe is on to confirm the cause behind the incident.”
As per legal procedure, an accidental death report was lodged at Kharadi police station and an investigation initiated.
Police said, the probe revealed that around 9 am, while replacing the empty LPG cylinder in the house with a refilled one, Vishnu Gite may have removed its safety lock. Due to this the LPG leaked out fast from the cylinder and exploded as it came in contact with fire, police said.
The impact was such that Vishnu, Vrundavani and Pandurang, all sustained severe burns and were left unconscious at the spot. All three died in the incident. The living room, kitchen and adjoining space in the house was destroyed.
Neighbours said Pandurang was an IT professional residing with parents, wife and daughter on the first floor of their “ground plus one storey” house in Fortune City. They had rented the ground floor out to a family.
The tenant Tanaji Botule said, “We heard the explosion and came out. Rajashree was shouting for help. I saw her daughter Niharika on the balcony. I asked her to jump to save her life. As soon as she jumped, I caught her safely. She had received some burn injuries.”
Police said Niharika was admitted to Jeevan Rakshak hospital on the Pune-Ahilyanagar highway. Her condition was stable. Her mother Rajashree received minor injuries, police said.
Dr Vivek Gupta of Jeevan Rakshak hospital said Niharika got a few blisters but was in massive shock due to the incident.
A neighbour Reshma Chandanshive said the victims belonged to a very good family and that Pandurang worked with a company in Kharadi area, while his brother was based in Gujarat. “We were left shocked after the incident,” she said.
Vishakha Toshniwal is an intern with The Indian Express.
The incident took place at a house in Fortune City, Khandve Nagar. Fire brigade officials said the explosion took place when an empty domestic LPG cylinder was being replaced. (Photo Credit: Vishakha Toshniwal) 
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