Delhi CNG Pump Blast: At least three people died while three others sustained injuries after a truck's CNG cylinder caught fire during refuelling, triggering an explosion at a CNG pump in Mundka's Tikri Kalan area. All three deceased have been identified as staff of the fuel pump.
According to the fire department, the incident occurred around 3:30 pm. The explosion was so powerful that it spread panic among those nearby. Six people were standing near the truck when the explosion took place.
According to a report by IANS, one of the deceased has been identified as 25-year-old Manish, a resident of West Delhi's Baba Haridas Colony. He was filling the gas in the CNG cylinder of the truck. The other deceased has been identified as 32-year-old Sunny Nizampur.
Officials said that while Manish died on the spot, Sunny breathed his last during treatment at Safdarjung Hospital, where all the injured were admitted. The identity of the third deceased is yet to be ascertained.
Following the incident, police and fire brigade teams arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the explosion and whether safety standards were followed.
Victim's Family Alleges Ambulance Arrived 30 Minutes Late
The family member of the fuel pump staff, who died in the blast, alleged that the man's body remained at the CNG pump for over 30 minutes before an ambulance arrived and took him to the hospital. "He lay there for half an hour. He had lost so much blood. How could anyone survive?" Manish's uncle, Vijay Prasad, said, as quoted by PTI.
Manish, who had been working at the fuel pump for around three years, had reported for his shift at about 2 pm on Wednesday. Prasad said he was informed over the phone that a cylinder had exploded and that Manish was seriously injured.
"I got a call saying that a cylinder had exploded and Manish was serious. I called my brother, and he, my nephew and several other people came here. By the time he could be put into the ambulance, he had lost enough blood. There was no one to take him. All gas station staff ran away," Prasad said.
The public is being asked to avoid the area as the investigation remains ongoing. The situation is currently under control, officials said, adding that further details regarding the blast and the hospitalised people are awaited.