Two injured in Zirakpur blast

The injured have been identified as Priyanka Mehta (22),a receptionist,and R K Jindal,the owner of R B Property Consultants. They were rushed to General Hospital,Sector 6,Panchkula,where Priyanka,a resident of Jagadhari,was struggling for life with 70 per cent burns. Jindal had sustained 20 per cent burns.

Mohali SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said preliminary investigations by police and forensic science experts have attributed the blast to leakage in a LPG cylinder.

The blast took place around 10 am on the ground floor of Jindal’s office,following which the glass door,window panes and other glass material broke and fire engulfed the office,trapping the owner and receptionist inside. Two fire tenders from Dera Bassi took 15 minutes to extinguish the fire.

Fire Officer Bhupinder Singh Sandhu also said leakage in the LPG cylinder placed in the office led to the blast and fire. “The LPG stove burner might have been left turned on overnight and the explosion took place when Priyanka came and switched on an electric switch or the stove,” said Sandhu. The exact reason behind the explosion was yet to be determined.

The fire damaged the furniture and other items in the office and the ceiling also developed cracks.

The intensity of the blast was so strong that glass doors and windows of several buildings nearby also broke. Mohali SP (Detective) Varinder Paul Singh and Dera Bassi DSP J S Khaira visited the spot with forensic experts.