01-06-2025
Air conditioner blast at Ghaziabad hotel kills one, injures another
A repair worker was killed and another severely injured on Saturday afternoon after an air conditioner compressor exploded atop a hotel in Ghaziabad's Vaishali neighbourhood, officials said.
The blast occurred around 2:10 pm on the roof of the Walk in the Woods Hotel, located in Sector 4 of Vaishali. The deceased, identified as Pintu, 35, who used only one name, was declared dead at the scene. The second worker, Puran, 40, sustained serious burns and is receiving treatment at Chandra Laxmi Hospital, according to a statement issued by the Ghaziabad Police.
'An information was received that two people were repairing AC on the roof of Hotel Walk in Woods when suddenly the AC compressor burst. Pintu died in the blast at the spot, while Puran is undergoing treatment,' the police said in an official statement.
Authorities added that no other individuals were injured. 'When we received the information, we sent the local police unit to the spot. It was found that both men were repairing AC on the roof of the hotel. Except for these two, no other men have sustained injuries. We are taking all the required legal action,' a police official said.
Saturday's incident marks the second time the establishment has faced a safety-related crisis. On January 25, 2024, a fire broke out in the restaurant's kitchen due to a spark in the chimney system, said Rahul Pal, Chief Fire Officer for Ghaziabad.
'Back then the restaurant had been operating without a Fire NOC,' Pal said, referring to the mandatory No Objection Certificate that certifies compliance with fire safety norms. He noted that the hotel has since obtained the necessary clearance. 'We have not sent them any notice this year regarding any violations and also they have taken the NOC,' he told The Indian Express.
The body of the deceased has been sent for post-mortem examination. Authorities said investigations into the cause of the compressor explosion are ongoing.
