Gas pipeline explosion in Bihar's Muzaffarpur kills and injures several
A blast triggered by a gas pipeline leak during drain construction work caused widespread damage in the Dumari area on Monday.
A gas pipeline leak caused an explosion in Bihar's Muzaffarpur on Monday, resulting in deaths and multiple injuries. According to reports from India Today, The New Indian Express and Deccan Chronicle, the blast occurred during drain construction work in the Dumari area near Gorbarsahi chowk.
The explosion happened when a JCB machine struck an underground piped natural gas (PNG) pipeline while digging. The blast caused a fire in a nearby house and damaged a four-storey building, several vehicles, and approximately 50 houses. Shockwaves from the incident shattered windowpanes within a 100-metre radius.
Muzaffarpur District Magistrate Kumar Gaurav stated that the explosion caused by the PNG pipeline leak resulted in deaths and left several people injured. While different reports provided varying casualty counts, the incident involved at least one fatality and multiple injuries. The injured were admitted to Sadar Hospital and Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital.
Sadar police station station house officer (SHO) Navlesh Kumar confirmed the death of a motorcyclist and injuries to seven others. The blast was powerful enough that residents reported hearing the sound between three and five kilometres away.
Following the incident, the gas company's technical team worked to stop the leak by shutting the main valve. District administration and police teams evacuated the area and brought the fire under control. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident and identify those responsible.