Early on Monday, residents of a narrow bylane in Ejipura woke up to a loud explosion, and saw a two-storey building, home to four families, collapse. While neighbours claimed that a gas leak blew up a part of the house, the police said that only a thorough investigation and forensic analysis would reveal the reason for the deaths.
Fire officials found three large and one small cylinder — all of which were intact. A senior fire officer said, prima facie, it looked like leaked gas exploded, sending out a fiery shockwave. “In these explosions, there is no residue on concrete or household items. All the bodies had severe burn marks. The gas caught fire, and sent out a pressure wave that was strong enough to break the load-bearing walls,” he said.
However, oil marketing companies (Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd & Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd) said the collapse due to LPG blast was ‘not validated’. “The four families had BP and HPCL connections, but no accident on account of the LPG cylinders has been reported,” said S. Varadachari, State-level Coordinator(oil industry) for Karnataka.
Police are in search of the building owner, Sampath. BBMP officials said the buildings had violated norms; the owner had not provided a certificate of stability despite the building being more than 30 years old. BBMP workers said the neighbouring house, which suffered damage, will be pulled down.
‘She was clutching my clothes and didn’t speak’
As the building around her collapsed, claiming the lives of her parents — Sharavana (28) and his seven-month pregnant wife Ashwini (25), three-year-old Sanjana was saved by a sturdy cupboard she slept next to.
For three hours, rescuers used heavy machines to remove the tonnes of debris and household material that marked the sight of the tragedy. Suddenly, the wafts of a child crying was heard. Fire and emergency officials removed concrete slabs by hand and eventually, a frail, scared with burn injuries, Sanjana was pulled out of the debris around 10 a.m.
“She was clutching my clothes and didn’t speak,” said H.S. Varadarajan, a senior fire officer who got Sanjana out and took her to the hospital. “She saw her uncle and grandfather, and started speaking. We were relieved and she is recovering well,” he added.
When the explosion blew the walls and the roof started collapsing, the cupboard titled and provided a small cavity of safety in which Sanjana hid. “We were searching at the back of the houses, believing that beds and bedrooms would be there. But then, we decided to take a chance and clear some debris in the middle too, just in case anyone could be found. It was by good fortune that we heard Sanjana’s cries,” said the fire officer.
Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George said the Sstate government would bear her medical and future educational expenses.
How events unfolded
6.40 a.m.: Fire breaks out in a house on 7th Cross, Ejipura. Building collapses, trapping 14 inside
9.30 a.m.: Sanjana, 3, rescued from the debris
9.45 a.m.: Remaining portion of building collapses, injuring four rescue workers
2.30 p.m.: NDRF sniffer dog, Brady, gets to the scene and confirms that no one is still trapped; operation called off
Toll & Injuries
Dead: 7
Injured: 7
Fire and emergency personnel injured: 4
The building
Built on a 300 square feet site
Age: over 30 years
Two-storey
No setback
Residents: Four families
