Pimpri: A gas cylinder explosion at Siddhivinayak Hotel in Chikhali injured four people after an attempt was made to change the cylinder regulator while the gas was still in operation.

The incident occurred on Wednesday evening, October 9, around 7:15 PM, when gas leakage caused a sudden explosion. The injured, identified as Rupali Bhosale (36), Datta Nikam (27), Vaibhav Mandve (26), and Soham Marathe (18), were immediately rushed to a private hospital in Triveni Nagar for treatment.

According to eyewitness accounts, hotel staff attempted to replace the regulator on the commercial 19 kg LPG cylinder while it was still in use. This led to the fire, with flames reaching four to five feet high from the cylinder's knob.

Firefighters from multiple stations, including Pimpri Main Station, Pradhikaran, Chikhali, and Talwade sub-centers, swiftly responded to the emergency.

They successfully extinguished the fire and prevented further escalation by removing three active and three empty cylinders from the premises. The fire caused significant damage to the hotel's kitchen area, including two stoves, a table fan, an exhaust fan, a water tank, electric wiring, a table counter, and ceiling structures.

The swift action of the fire department prevented a potential disaster, as the fire was brought under control before it could spread further. The injured are currently receiving medical care, and their condition is being closely monitored.

Fire officers, led by Sunil Pharande and Balaji Vaidya, along with Chief Fire Officer Sampat Gawand, played a crucial role in managing the situation. Their team consisted of firefighters, machine operators, and vehicle drivers, all of whom contributed to preventing a larger catastrophe.