Ludhiana: A family, including several children, escaped a major tragedy narrowly on Monday night after a cooking gas cylinder ignited in the densely populated Jawahar Nagar camp.The incident, which occurred during dinner preparations, is the third fire linked to gas cylinders in the city within the last fortnight, raising fresh concerns over fire safety in congested residential pockets. The blaze reportedly began when gas leaked from a supply pipe and ignited, quickly engulfing the kitchen. As flames intensified, family members fled the home, alerting neighbours with screams for help.A witness said: “The flames spread quickly, creating panic among the neighbours. In such a crowded area, the fear was that the fire would jump to adjacent houses or cause a massive explosion.” Neighbours assisted in the immediate evacuation of the children before summoning the fire brigade. While the interior of the home sustained significant damage, fire officials arrived in time to prevent the cylinder from detonating.A fire department spokesperson said: “Our team took immediate control of the situation upon arrival. The fire originated from the cylinder pipe. Because it was brought under control quickly, there were no injuries or loss of life.” The incident follows two other recent cylinder-related emergencies in the city. In Janakpuri, a cylinder blast caused extensive property damage earlier this month. Three children sustained burn injuries in a separate fire sparked during an illegal gas decanting operation.Authorities have warned public frequently against the dangers of faulty regulators and pipes, especially in high-density areas like Jawahar Nagar, where emergency vehicle access is often restricted. MSID:: 127620121 413 |
