15 injured in bakery explosion

Part of building collapses at Chandni Mahal, two victims still critical

At least 15 people were injured when part of a three-storey building collapsed in an explosion at a bakery shop in central Delhi’s Chandni Mahal on Monday afternoon.

Police said the incident took place after an explosion in the compressor of a freezer which engulfed a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder kept nearby. According to a police officer, four persons were busy preparing bakery items at around 1.45 pm when this happened and in a matter of seconds, the entire bakery was engulfed in flames which led to partial collapse of the building.

Around a dozen people standing nearby also sustained injuries. Police added the owner, Irshad, lives with his family on the first floor of the building while the shop is on the ground floor.

“Neighbours heard a thud and rushed to see what had happened. Impact of the explosion was so intense that the neighbouring houses felt the tremor too,” the officer said.

Locals informed police, which approached Delhi Fire Service. Eight fire tenders were rushed to the spot. “We controlled the fire which had already subsided due to locals’ efforts. The injured were taken to Lok Nayak Hospital,” a fire officer said.

They are being treated for burn injuries and other injuries caused due to the building collapse. “Their condition is out of danger but two of them are still critical,” hospital sources said.

Mohammed Fahim and Ramdin have sustained 40 per cent burns, while the rest have sustained around 10 per cent burns. Police said a case of negligible conduct has been registered against the bakery’s owner and investigation is on to establish culpability.

Azad Singh, mayor of North Corporation, visited the injured at Lok Nayak Hospital. He directed the deputy commissioner of city zone to get the debris cleared at the earliest so that the residents don’t face any inconvenience.