Bengaluru PG Cylinder Blast Injures 9 After Windows Were Kept Shut

Nine migrant workers from West Bengal sustained severe burn injuries after a powerful gas cylinder explosion ripped through a private paying guest (PG) accommodation in Bengaluru early on Thursday morning. The incident occurred at around 6:30 a.m. on the second floor of a three-storey building, where the workers were staying. Authorities said the blast was triggered by a gas leak in the kitchen, causing extensive damage to the building and raising serious concerns over safety violations at the premises.

The explosion was so intense that it shattered glass windows and doors across the entire floor and also damaged a neighbouring building. According to preliminary investigations, all nine workers were staying in a single-bedroom unit with a small kitchen and bathroom. One worker jumped from the building to escape the flames and suffered a minor fracture, while the remaining occupants sustained burn injuries exceeding 60 per cent. Doctors treating the victims said all of them are currently in stable condition despite the severity of their injuries.

The injured have been identified as Debasis Halder, Debasis Malik, Subrata Bera, Hasibul Rehman, Sourav Chowdhary, Santan Ray, Syed Alahuddin and Diswanatb, all natives of West Bengal. Officials said the accommodation housed multiple similar units, each allegedly occupied by several labourers, prompting questions over overcrowding and compliance with safety regulations. Police are continuing efforts to verify the identity and details of all those affected.

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Following an inspection of the site, Joint Commissioner of Police (East Division) Ramesh Banoth described the premises as being in violation of multiple regulations. He said investigators are examining how nine people were allowed to stay in a single room and whether the PG operator complied with mandatory building and fire safety norms. The building is owned by Nagaraj Reddy and leased to Gangaraju, who manages the paying guest facility.

Preliminary findings indicate that leaking cooking gas accumulated inside the room after the occupants reportedly kept all windows closed overnight to prevent mosquitoes from entering. The trapped gas is believed to have ignited, resulting in the explosion. Police are now verifying the credentials of the private company that supplied the gas cylinder and inspecting the quality of the cylinder, regulator and connecting pipes. The investigation is expected to determine whether negligence, faulty equipment or regulatory violations contributed to the incident.

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