3 killed in cylinder blast at Kurukshetra institute

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, April 4

Three people- an instructor and two students- lost their lives when two welding gas cylinders bursted at the ITI workshop of Gyan Ganga Polytechnic Institute at Hingakheri village, around 12 km from here, today. The incident took place around 10:50 am.

The deceased have been identified as Rahul (20), residing here in Chhiba village with his maternal uncle; Ravi (19), a resident of Durali village; and welding instructor Kuldeep Kumar, a resident of Kaithal.

Four other people, who were outside the building, sustained injuries. They were Mamta, Jagmohan, Chamkar Singh and Mandeep.

Chamkar Singh said “We were outside the building. We heard the blast but have no idea what happened there.”

The impact of the blast was so much that the bodies were blown into pieces and their limbs were spread in a large area outside the workshop. Head of a deceased was found on the roof of a nearby three-storey building. For several hours, the victims remained unidentified. A section of the roof of the workshop was blown up completely and window panes of other buildings were also completely damaged.

Institute’s principal Krishan Popli said “I was in my office and heard the blast. It was an off today. While the other staff had gone for the promotion of the institute, the ITI staff was here to complete its manual records.”

A major tragedy was averted as it was a holiday in the institute. There were six filled cylinders. While two bursted, the other four were taken out safely by firemen.

Forensic expert Ashok Verma said two gas welding cylinders got burst and the cause of the incident was yet to be ascertained.

About the gases in the cylinder, he said “The cylinders and the other collected evidences have been sent to FSL Madhuban for investigation. The exact detail about the gases would be known only the FSL reports come in.”

Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Krishan Bedi, MP Rajkumar Saini, Thanesar MLA Subhash Sudha, Superintendent of Police Simardeep Singh, SDM Satbir Kundu and Shahabad Ex-MLA Anil Dhantori reached the spot.

Krishan Bedi said “It was a hapless incident. Our thoughts are with the victim families and the state government will provide every help to them.”