Boy dies, girl critical in cylinder blast

A seven-year-old boy, who had sustained severe burns after an LPG gas cylinder exploded at his house in Marathahalli, succumbed on Saturday.

The deceased is Nikhil Karun. Nikhil’s sister Neha (3) is still critical and is being treated at the Victoria Hospital. She is said to have sustained about 40% burns.

Nikhil and Neha are children of Karun and Maya, both from Nepal. They arrived in the city about a month ago. Karun is employed as a security guard at an apartment in Marathahalli. He stays at a room in the basement of the apartment along with his family, said the police.

The incident occurred on May 23. Maya had forgotten to turn off the cylinder’s regulator properly. The cylinder pipe had suffered damages, which resulted in the gas leakage, added the police.

When Maya woke up the next morning and switched on the lights, the cylinder exploded within seconds. His two children, who were asleep, sustained severe burns. All four were rushed to the Victoria Hospital.