A devastating LPG cylinder explosion ripped through a home in Bengaluru’s KR Puram early Saturday morning, killing an 81-year-old woman and injuring four other individuals. The blast was so intense that it partially collapsed the house and caused cracks in three neighboring properties, with its sound reportedly echoing up to five kilometers away across Triveni Nagar.
The incident occurred in a house rented by 55-year-old Shekhar, who resided there with his children, Chandana (22) and Kiran Kumar (24), and his elderly mother, Akkayyamma. Fire and emergency services swiftly responded to the scene, rescuing Akkayyamma from the wreckage. Sadly, she later succumbed to her injuries, while Chandana remains in critical condition. Shekhar, Kiran Kumar, and a 45-year-old neighbor, Kanchana, also sustained injuries.
According to police reports, the explosion happened around 7:15 a.m. Akkayyamma was asleep when the roof caved in due to the force of the blast. Investigators believe the incident was caused by accumulated gas leakage in the house, which ignited when a family member attempted to switch on the stove. Authorities, including the Fire and Emergency Services and the Forensic Science Laboratory team, are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause.
Initial confusion led local residents to believe the loud noise was due to Deepavali firecrackers. Following the tragedy, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje and K.R. Puram MLA Byrati Basavaraj visited the site, offering assurances of necessary assistance to the affected families.