‘It sounded like a bomb blast, and the shockwaves shook us'
Lathif said that about ten people managed to remove the debris that had fallen on his cousins and rushed them to hospital. About half an hour later, he received a call from his father informing him that Mubarak had died.
The blast also left eight others injured, including an eight-year-old boy, who is in a critical condition, receiving treatment in the ICU and fighting for his life. The other injured have been identified as Kasturamma, Sarasamma, Shabrina Banu, Subramani, Sheikh Najeeb Ulla, Pramila, and Rajesh.
While the count of injured stands at nine, the blast could have been far more devastating, as it occurred in a cluster of 17 houses, each no larger than 10 feet by 10 feet, occupied by 60 residents. The settlement is compact, with just three narrow exit lanes, each less than three feet wide.
'We have lived here for almost 50 years, and nothing like this has ever happened,' said Harish Kumar, son of Subramani, one of the injured.
The cluster is around 60 years old, but in recent years, high-rise buildings have sprung up around it. Residents said they did not know whether these high-rises had the necessary clearances to be built in such a congested area.
The blast occurred around 8.10 a.m. .
Mr. Kumar said his mother was about to take a bath and entered the bathroom when the blast ripped through the building. 'She only remembers a loud thud and the top sheet falling on her head. She fell unconscious,' Kumar told The Hindu.
Sheikh, a painter by profession, recalled that he ran for his life through the lane at the back of the cluster. 'Glass shattered, and I saw the roof collapsing. I panicked and ran,' he said, showing cuts on his legs from the broken glass as he fled.
'It sounded like a bomb blast, and the shockwaves shook us,' Sheikh added. Initially, every one believed it was some kind of an explosion. Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh did not provide clarity at first, saying it was too early to comment. By then, it was already 12.30 p.m. Panic gripped the neighbourhood and intensified when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah arrived at the scene, fuelling further speculation.
'Sir, the Chief Minister is here, this must be serious, right?' asked Najeeb, a bystander watching the Chief Minister's arrival.
Before his visit, the canine squad, bomb disposal squad, State Disaster Response Force, Garuda Force, and Internal Security Division had all arrived at the site to inspect the area.
By evening, however, the Police Commissioner confirmed that the blast had been caused by an LPG cylinder leak.
The Forensic Science Laboratory team, bomb squad, and Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) collected samples from the blast site. Tests confirmed that no explosive chemicals were present, ruling out any deliberate act. The police, however, said they would conduct further checks once all the debris was cleared.
For now, the affected families have been moved to temporary shelters, and the BBMP has announced that their houses will be reconstructed.
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The Hindu
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‘It sounded like a bomb blast, and the shockwaves shook us'
'Mubarak and Fathima both cried for help in front of me as debris covered them, wailing in pain. I couldn't clear the pile because it was too much,' recalled Abdul Lathif, cousin of Mubarak and Fathima. Mubarak, 10, lost his life, while Fathima, 8, was seriously injured in the blast caused by a suspected cylinder leak in Adugodi, southeastern Bengaluru, on Friday. Lathif said that about ten people managed to remove the debris that had fallen on his cousins and rushed them to hospital. About half an hour later, he received a call from his father informing him that Mubarak had died. The blast also left eight others injured, including an eight-year-old boy, who is in a critical condition, receiving treatment in the ICU and fighting for his life. The other injured have been identified as Kasturamma, Sarasamma, Shabrina Banu, Subramani, Sheikh Najeeb Ulla, Pramila, and Rajesh. While the count of injured stands at nine, the blast could have been far more devastating, as it occurred in a cluster of 17 houses, each no larger than 10 feet by 10 feet, occupied by 60 residents. The settlement is compact, with just three narrow exit lanes, each less than three feet wide. 'We have lived here for almost 50 years, and nothing like this has ever happened,' said Harish Kumar, son of Subramani, one of the injured. The cluster is around 60 years old, but in recent years, high-rise buildings have sprung up around it. Residents said they did not know whether these high-rises had the necessary clearances to be built in such a congested area. The blast occurred around 8.10 a.m. . Mr. Kumar said his mother was about to take a bath and entered the bathroom when the blast ripped through the building. 'She only remembers a loud thud and the top sheet falling on her head. She fell unconscious,' Kumar told The Hindu. Sheikh, a painter by profession, recalled that he ran for his life through the lane at the back of the cluster. 'Glass shattered, and I saw the roof collapsing. I panicked and ran,' he said, showing cuts on his legs from the broken glass as he fled. 'It sounded like a bomb blast, and the shockwaves shook us,' Sheikh added. Initially, every one believed it was some kind of an explosion. Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh did not provide clarity at first, saying it was too early to comment. By then, it was already 12.30 p.m. Panic gripped the neighbourhood and intensified when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah arrived at the scene, fuelling further speculation. 'Sir, the Chief Minister is here, this must be serious, right?' asked Najeeb, a bystander watching the Chief Minister's arrival. Before his visit, the canine squad, bomb disposal squad, State Disaster Response Force, Garuda Force, and Internal Security Division had all arrived at the site to inspect the area. By evening, however, the Police Commissioner confirmed that the blast had been caused by an LPG cylinder leak. The Forensic Science Laboratory team, bomb squad, and Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) collected samples from the blast site. Tests confirmed that no explosive chemicals were present, ruling out any deliberate act. The police, however, said they would conduct further checks once all the debris was cleared. For now, the affected families have been moved to temporary shelters, and the BBMP has announced that their houses will be reconstructed.
