Bengaluru: A tragic cylinder blast rocked the tightly packed Chinnayanpalya locality in Wilson Garden on Friday morning, killing a 10-year-old boy and leaving nine others injured. The powerful explosion also damaged at least six houses, most of which are closely built and share boundaries.
Officials said the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, while rescue and relief operations are still underway. A cylinder leak is suspected to be the cause of the blast, though Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh cautioned that it was too early to confirm.
According to the Commissioner, the explosion occurred in a rented house where a family of three resided. The father had left for work earlier in the day, while his wife and child were injured in the accident. The deceased, identified as Mubarak, was from a neighbouring house.
In response, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah visited the site, expressed his condolences, and assured support. He announced ₹5 lakh compensation to Mubarak’s family and confirmed that the state government will cover medical expenses of all injured victims.
The police control room received the first distress call at 8.30 am. Immediately, the bomb disposal squad, anti-terror team, State Disaster Response Force, fire brigade, and local police were pressed into action to secure the area and assist in rescue operations.
The blast, coming just ahead of Independence Day celebrations, has raised concerns about safety measures in densely populated residential zones. Investigations are ongoing to establish the exact cause of the explosion.