Bengaluru: Eight labourers from West Bengal sustained burn injuries after a suspected gas cylinder leak triggered a fire at a paying guest (PG) accommodation in Bommasandra on Thursday morning. Police have registered a negligence case against the building owner, while an investigation has been launched to ascertain the exact cause of the incident.
The fire broke out at around 6.30 am on the second floor of Sai PG, where nine labourers employed at M Engineering Company were staying.
Blaze erupts after suspected cylinder leak
According to the police, the fire is suspected to have been caused by a gas cylinder leak inside the room occupied by the workers.
The blaze spread rapidly, leaving the occupants with little time to escape. Local residents alerted the authorities, and emergency responders rushed to the spot to rescue the injured and shift them to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Officials are investigating the circumstances that led to the suspected gas leak and whether all required safety measures had been followed at the accommodation.
Eight workers suffer burn injuries
The injured have been identified as Debasis Halder, Debasis Malik, Subrata Bera, Hisbul Rehman, Sourav Chowdary, Santan Ray, Syed Alahuddin and Diswanath.
According to a senior police officer, six of the injured have sustained more than 60 per cent burn injuries. They are currently undergoing treatment at Best Hospital in Chandapura.
The remaining injured workers are also receiving medical care. Their condition is being closely monitored by doctors.
Police said all the injured labourers are natives of West Bengal and were working at a private engineering company in the industrial area.
Negligence case registered
Following the incident, police registered a case of negligence against the owner of the PG building.
Investigators are examining whether the accommodation complied with fire safety norms and whether there were lapses in the handling or maintenance of cooking gas cylinders.
Officials said evidence is being collected from the scene, and statements from witnesses and the injured will be recorded as part of the investigation.
Probe underway
Authorities are working to determine the exact cause of the fire and whether any violations of safety regulations contributed to the incident.
Police said further legal action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation. They also reiterated the importance of adhering to fire safety standards in residential accommodations, especially those housing large numbers of workers.
The incident has once again highlighted the need for regular safety inspections and strict compliance with fire and gas safety regulations in paying guest accommodations and labour housing facilities.