A 51-year-old woman injured in a devastating cooking gas cylinder explosion in Mumbai’s Kandivali area last week has died from her burns, raising the death toll to four, civic officials reported on Monday. Shivani Gandhi, who suffered 70% burns in the incident, passed away at Airoli Burns Hospital in Navi Mumbai. Two other victims remain in critical condition as authorities continue to investigate the cause of the blast, which occurred at a crowded residential chawl and highlighted ongoing safety concerns with LPG usage in densely populated urban areas.

The explosion took place on Wednesday morning at Ram Kisan Mestri Chawl on Military Road, where a fire broke out in a shop after the cylinder detonated. Seven people were injured, including six women and one man. On Sunday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced that three of the women had already succumbed to their injuries: Raksha Joshi (47), Nitu Gupta (31), and Putanu (31). Gandhi’s death marks the fourth fatality, leaving the community in mourning over the rapid escalation of the tragedy.

Among the survivors, two women are fighting for their lives. Janaki Gupta (39), with 70% burns, is receiving treatment at Airoli Burns Hospital, while Durga Gupta (30), who sustained 90% burns, is under care at the civic-run Kasturba Hospital. Both are listed in critical condition, requiring intensive medical intervention. The sole male victim, Manaram Kumacat (55), suffered 40% burns but is now stable at Airoli Hospital, officials confirmed.

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Mumbai has witnessed several gas cylinder incidents in recent years, often linked to poor maintenance, overcrowding, or substandard equipment in informal settlements. The BMC has initiated a probe into the blast’s cause, including checks on cylinder refilling practices and shop safety compliance. As the injured recover, calls for stricter regulations and awareness campaigns on safe gas handling are intensifying to prevent future mishaps in the city’s bustling neighbourhoods.

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