Maharashtra Floods: Nearly 3,000 LPG Cylinders Washed Into Patalganga River After HPCL Plant Breach
Raigad, 9th July 2026: Nearly 3,000 LPG cylinders were swept into the Patalganga River after floodwaters breached the boundary wall of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (HPCL) LPG bottling plant in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, prompting authorities to issue an urgent public safety advisory.
The incident occurred at the HPCL Patalganga LPG Bottling Plant in the MIDC Chavane area of Panvel taluka after incessant rainfall triggered flooding in the region. As water rushed into the plant premises, around 3,000 cylinders—both filled and empty- were carried away by the strong current into the Patalganga River and the adjoining Kharpada Creek. Videos showing hundreds of cylinders floating downstream have since gone viral on social media.
Raigad District Collector Kishan Jawale has appealed to residents not to touch, collect or take home any cylinders found in or around the river. Authorities warned that some of the cylinders may still contain LPG, making them a serious safety hazard.
“There is no guarantee whether the cylinders washed into the river contain gas or whether they are in a safe condition. Picking them up, opening them or taking them home could be extremely dangerous,” the collector said while urging citizens to immediately inform authorities or hand over any recovered cylinders to HPCL, authorised HPCL dealers, or nearby government offices.
The incident comes as Maharashtra continues to witness widespread flooding due to heavy monsoon rains, with Raigad among the worst-affected districts. Officials are working to trace and recover the missing cylinders while monitoring the situation to prevent any accidents.
video credit: Piyush Rai / on X
