A woman and her daughter suffered serious burn injuries after a gas cylinder exploded in their flat in Malwani following a gas leak on Thursday morning.
The fire broke out at the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority Colony at 6.15 a.m. Nilofar Shaikh (33) was preparing to send her daughter Iqra (6) for a school picnic when the gas cylinder exploded.
Mohammed Sirajuddin, a neighbour who rushed to their help, said, “Nilofar was lying outside the house, and was severely burnt. We covered her with a blanket and extinguished the fire. I called up the police immediately but there was no response. We then admitted Nilofar and Iqra to a nearby hospital. They were then shifted to Masina Hospital in Byculla.” Doctors said Nilofar sustained 62% burns and Iqra sustained 30% burns.
The police said that the impact of the explosion was so severe that the furniture and electronic appliances in the living room were completely damaged. Neighbours said that burnt pieces of clothing were lying on the floor of the house. The balcony’s grille was blown away in the explosion and the glass panes of all windows were shattered.
Mr. Sirajuddin said that Nilofer’s husband, Shahid Shaikh, and their two year-old son, who were sleeping in an adjoining room escaped unhurt.
Gas leak confirmed
The Fire Brigade arrived at 7.30 a.m. and doused the fire. Senior police inspector, Dipak Phatangare of Malwani police station confirmed that the fire broke out owing to gas leakage.
