Malwani Chawl Fire: LPG Explosion Injures Seven, Including Toddler
A major fire erupted in a chawl in Malwani, Malad West, Mumbai, on Tuesday morning following a severe LPG cylinder explosion, leaving seven people injured including a two-year-old boy. The incident occurred around 9:25 AM in a ground-plus-two-floored structure located near AC Masjid, adjacent to Bharat Mata School.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Tragedy
According to fire brigade officials, the blaze was confined to the first floor of the residential building where two families resided. Preliminary investigations suggest that gas from an LPG cylinder had accumulated on the first floor due to a leakage. One of the residents attempted to light the gas stove with a matchstick, triggering a powerful explosion.
The force of the blast caused a portion of the second-floor flooring to collapse. A woman and her two-year-old grandson fell through the damaged floor, sustaining injuries in the process. All seven injured individuals were initially transported to Aadhar Hospital and BDBA Hospital by local residents before emergency services arrived at the scene.
Critical Condition of Victims at KEM Hospital
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) confirmed that all seven injured were subsequently shifted to KEM Hospital for specialized treatment. The victims have been identified as:
- Vijay Chaudhary (48)
- Tausif Khan (22)
- Ali Kasim (18)
- Ruma Chaudhary (43)
- Alisha Chaudhary (20)
- Adil Shaikh (2 years)
- Julekha Shaikh (47)
Dr. Vinita Puri, head of the burns unit at KEM Hospital, provided detailed information about the victims' conditions. The first family involves a grandmother who is currently intubated with 60% burns and her two-year-old grandson who sustained 17% burns affecting his face and hands.
"In a child, burns exceeding 15% are considered serious. For an adult, the threshold is 20 to 25%," explained Dr. Puri, highlighting the severity of the toddler's injuries.
Second Family Suffers Extensive Burns
The second affected family includes a couple and their three children, all of whom suffered extensive burn injuries. According to medical reports:
- The eldest son has 75% burns and is intubated
- The father has 50% burns and is intubated
- The mother has 35% burns and is intubated
- The 20-year-old daughter is intubated with 20% burns
- The youngest, an 18-year-old, has 17-18% burns
Dr. Puri added that "All have pulmonary injuries and facial involvement. Their condition is critical," indicating the grave nature of their medical situation.
Emergency Response and Ongoing Investigation
Fire brigade officials confirmed that the explosion and subsequent fire were contained to the first floor of the structure. The incident has raised concerns about gas safety in densely populated chawl areas of Mumbai. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the exact cause of the gas leakage and the circumstances that led to the tragic explosion.
The Malwani chawl fire serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with LPG cylinder usage in residential areas, particularly in structures with limited ventilation and safety measures.
