Kharadi LPG Cylinder Blast Turns Tragic: Techie, Parents Die; Wife and Daughter Survive
Pune, 5th June 2026: Two more members of a family succumbed to severe burn injuries sustained in the LPG cylinder explosion and fire at Khandve Nagar in Kharadi on Friday morning, taking the death toll in the incident to three.
The deceased have been identified as Vishnu Munjaji Gite (60), his wife Vrindavani Vishnu Gite (55), and their son Pandurang Vishnu Gite (35). All three had suffered critical burn injuries in the blast and were undergoing treatment at Sassoon General Hospital when they died. Pandurang worked as an IT professional.
According to police, Pandurang’s six-year-old daughter, who was injured in the incident, managed to leap from the balcony and was rescued by a neighbour. She is undergoing treatment at Jeevan Rakshak Hospital on Nagar Road. Doctors said her condition is stable. His wife, Rajshree Pandurang Gite (25), sustained minor injuries.
The incident occurred around 9 am at the family’s residence in Khandve Nagar. Preliminary investigations revealed that the explosion took place while Vishnu Gite was replacing an LPG cylinder kept in the pooja room. After the safety lock was removed, leaking gas reportedly spread rapidly inside the house, triggering a powerful explosion and the subsequent fire.
According to the Pune Fire Brigade, a distress call was received around 9.15 am reporting a fire and suspected cylinder blast in a residential building in Khandve Nagar. Fire tenders from Kharadi, Dhanori and Yerawada fire stations were rushed to the spot.
The blaze caused extensive damage to the hall area of the flat, destroying furniture, a television set, and electrical wiring. Bathroom and toilet doors, along with a geyser, were also damaged in the fire. In the kitchen, a refrigerator and some furniture suffered partial damage. Thick smoke spread throughout the apartment, leaving all interior walls blackened.
Firefighters found flames engulfing the first floor of the ground-plus-one residential building and launched firefighting operations while simultaneously rescuing the injured occupants. The blaze was brought under control, and cooling operations were carried out to prevent any rekindling.
Senior Fire Officer Pramod Sonawane said, “The fire brigade responded promptly after receiving information about the incident. Our teams brought the blaze under control. Preliminary findings indicate that the explosion was caused by LPG gas leakage while a new cylinder was being installed. Citizens should always ensure proper fitting of gas cylinders and immediately report any suspected gas leak to avoid such accidents.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police Prashant Amrutkar said that further investigation into the incident is underway.
