Three Killed, Three Injured in CNG Cylinder Blast Near Tikri Kalan Metro Station
Three workers were killed and three others sustained injuries after a CNG cylinder fitted in a truck exploded at a filling station near Tikri Kalan metro station in west Delhi on Wednesday afternoon, according to the police.
The deceased have been identified as Manish, 25, Sunny, 32, and Brahmjeet, 34, all of whom were employed at the CNG filling station. Among the injured, Surjeet, 32, and Sanjay, 37, were admitted to a hospital in Mundka for treatment, while a third person, Vipin, sustained minor injuries.
The incident occurred around 3:20 p.m. when six people were standing near the vehicle. Seven fire tenders were dispatched to the site following a distress call, though no active firefighting was required.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Vikram Singh said the truck had multiple CNG cylinders fitted underneath its body, and the blast took place while fuel was being pumped into one of them. Manish, the station employee handling the refilling nozzle, bore the brunt of the explosion and died at the spot. Two other men standing in close proximity also suffered fatal injuries.
The force of the explosion caused structural damage to equipment at the fuel outlet and damaged three nearby vehicles, including another truck, a van, and a scooter.
Following the incident, security personnel cordoned off the filling station. The truck involved in the blast was seized by the police for technical inspection to determine the sequence of events and factors leading to the rupture.
Investigators are working to establish the exact cause of the blast. Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has been asked by the authorities to examine the technical components and equipment. The police have registered a case of negligence, and further investigation remains underway.
Family members of Manish alleged that he was left lying at the fuel station for a considerable period before an emergency vehicle arrived to transport him to Safdarjung Hospital. However, police officials denied any delay in medical response, stating that assisting and shifting the injured was prioritised immediately after the blast.
