Blast at Pune Scrap Shop Kills One, Injures Three, Investigation Underway

Ghorpadi, 27th December 2024: A major blast occurred earlier today at a scrap shop on Pune’s BT Kawade Road, injuring three people and killing one. One of the three injured suffered facial injuries due to the blast. The explosion was caused by an unknown item containing some kind of gas, which went off while scrap shop employees were preparing items for melting.

According to Fire Officer Pramod Sonawane, who was present at the scene, the explosion was reported at around 5:30 PM to the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Fire Brigade Control Room. A fire vehicle from Kalkathit Dayanand Sonkamble Fire Station was dispatched to the location on BT Kawade Road in Ghorpadi.

Sonawane said that upon arrival, fire officials found no fire, but four people had been injured, and items and materials from a tin shed were scattered everywhere. Three people were seriously injured but stable, while the one who had been cutting a small tank that exploded in his face was in critical condition. He was taken to Sassoon General Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival, the fire brigade confirmed. The other injured person, who was also in serious condition, was sent to Sassoon General Hospital, while the others with less severe injuries were taken to a local clinic, Officer Sonawane added.

Sonawane confirmed that the person who was cutting the tank, identified as Mohammad Shaikh (50, resident of Ram Tekdi), was in very bad condition at the scene. Fire officials explained that he was taken to Sassoon with severe facial and head injuries and was declared dead on arrival. The other injured have been identified as Kishore Salve (40), Dilip Misal (40), both workers, and Mohammad Banimiya Syed (50), the scrap shop owner, according to Fire Brigade officials. While Sonawane could not confirm the exact gas the tank contained or how it exploded, he stated that an investigation was ongoing.