VASCO
The tranquillity in the wee hours of Thursday turned into a scene of panic and destruction in New Vaddem, Vasco, after a suspected LPG cylinder leakage triggered a devastating fire and explosion at a shop cum rented house, leaving a mother and her daughter injured.
The incident unfolded around 4 am while the victims were asleep inside their rented residence. According to preliminary findings, gas had reportedly been leaking from the cylinder overnight, accumulating within the enclosed space. The situation escalated dramatically when a fire ignited the trapped gas, leading to a high-intensity blast that tore through the home.
The sheer force of the explosion blew off the roof structure, which collapsed inward onto the sleeping occupants. Hearing the deafening roar and the sound of falling debris, alerted neighbours rushed out of their homes to find the structure heavily damaged and smoke pouring from the site. Local residents acted swiftly, pulling the trapped mother and daughter out from under the rubble before emergency services arrived.
Both victims sustained burn and impact injuries and were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency medical care. While their current conditions remain under close observation by medical personnel, local authorities have launched an inquiry into the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
Fire and Emergency Services personnel, alongside local police, arrived shortly after the blast to secure the area, isolate the damaged cylinder, and prevent further hazards. Officials suspect a faulty regulator, a damaged pipe, or an unclosed valve may have caused the gas to seep out undetected overnight.
Investigators and local police remain on site to pin down the exact trigger behind the leak. In the meantime, emergency officials are urging residents to double-check their regulator knobs, inspect rubber hoses for cracks, and keep kitchen windows cracked open at night to avoid similar tragedies.
MLA visits site; assures aid, orders safety inspections
VASCO: Following the LPG cylinder explosion at New Vaddem that critically injured a mother and daughter early Thursday, Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar visited the site to assess the damage and support the affected family.
Salkar assured the relatives that financial assistance would be arranged through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to meet the victims’ medical expenses and reconstruction costs.
Both victims, who sustained severe burn and impact injuries, were shifted to Goa Medical College, Bambolim, for specialised treatment. Salkar also contacted senior doctors and hospital authorities, urging them to provide all necessary medical support and ensure round-the-clock monitoring.
In the wake of the incident, Salkar directed Fire and Emergency Services officials to conduct safety inspections of commercial establishments and shops that store or use LPG cylinders.
He called for strict enforcement of safety norms, including adequate ventilation and exhaust systems to prevent gas accumulation. Salkar also directed authorities to take action against establishments found violating safety requirements.
