Navi Mumbai [India], September 16: Two people were critically injured after a powerful blast at a food shop in Sanpada, Navi Mumbai, early Tuesday morning. The incident occurred at around 6 am in Pratik Cooperative Housing Society in Sector 1, triggering panic among residents and shopkeepers in the area. The blast damaged six shops in the affected building and a neighbouring housing society, while the force of the explosion also shattered glass windows of a nearby hospital.
According to civic officials and reports from the fire department, the incident occurred at a snacks/food outlet operating from the ground floor of the building. Emergency services received the call at around 6.13 am, and the Vashi fire brigade team reached the location within minutes. Two men working at the shop suffered extensive burn injuries and were rushed for medical treatment.
The injured men were identified as Arjun Yadav, 46, and Manish Yadav, 26/27. Officials said both sustained severe burns, with reports putting their injuries at roughly 75 per cent and between 85 and 90 per cent respectively. They were initially taken to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation hospital in Vashi and were subsequently reported to be receiving specialised treatment. Their condition was described as critical.
The force of the blast caused considerable damage beyond the shop where the incident occurred. Two adjoining shops in the same complex were damaged, while three more shops in the neighbouring Abhimanyu Cooperative Housing Society were also affected. The glass facade and windows of Suraj Hospital, located across from the building, were shattered by the impact. No patients or hospital staff were reported injured in the hospital.
Initial reports described the incident as a cylinder blast. However, information emerging from the preliminary investigation suggests that an LPG leak followed by ignition may have caused the blast-like impact. Three commercial LPG cylinders were reportedly present at the shop. Authorities are examining how the gas leaked, accumulated inside the enclosed premises and subsequently ignited.
One preliminary account suggests that the shop was being used as a food outlet and that gas may have accumulated inside the premises overnight. A spark from an electrical switch is suspected to have ignited the leaked gas. This remains part of the preliminary investigation, and authorities are expected to establish the exact sequence after completing their inspection and forensic examination.
Fire brigade personnel and police reached the spot shortly after the incident and began rescue and safety operations. The affected area was inspected to assess the structural and property damage and to determine whether there were any further safety risks. A forensic team has also examined the location as authorities work to establish the precise cause of the explosion.
The incident has highlighted the risks associated with commercial cooking operations inside buildings that are also surrounded by residential premises, shops and medical facilities. In Sanpada, the impact travelled well beyond the original food outlet, damaging several neighbouring establishments and breaking hospital windows across the road.
The blast also caused considerable alarm in Sector 1 as the loud explosion occurred early in the morning. Local residents and shopkeepers rushed outside after hearing the blast, while emergency personnel moved in to assist the injured and secure the area.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident. While an LPG leak is currently among the key explanations being examined, the final cause will depend on the findings of the forensic and fire-safety investigation. The condition of the two injured men also remains a major concern as they undergo treatment for their extensive burns.
