5-year-old dies in cylinder blast in neighbour’s home

A five-year-old boy died while four others were injured in an LPG cylinder blast in Sector 3, Kalamboli, on Thursday morning.

The boy, Soham Katte, died after a wall collapsed on him due to the impact of the blast in his neighbour’s residence. The incident happened around 6.25 a.m., at the residence of Nana Jadhav (35) in LIG Colony near KLE college. Mr. Jadhav’s wife, Ashwini (32), suffered 70% burn injuries, while Mr. Jadhav burned his legs and hands while trying to save his wife.

Soham’s parents, Baban Katte (42) and Shubhangi Katte (32), were injured after the common wall between the two homes collapsed.

Gas leak suspected

“We suspect that there was either a gas leak or the burner was left on for the whole night at the Jadhav residence. The doors and windows were shut and even the exhaust in kitchen was covered with cardboard. When Ashwini Jadhav woke up in the morning, she clicked on the lighter, which led to the blast,” Ajay Sawant, the owner of the building, said.

While the Jadhav and Katte families stayed on the ground floor, Mr. Sawant and his wife, constable Pradnya Sawant, attached with Navi Mumbai police commissionerate, stayed on the first floor.

Residents douse flames

Satish Kadam, a nearby resident, said, “I was on my morning walk when I suddenly heard a loud sound. I saw a woman on flames run out of the building crying for help. Nearby residents gathered and doused the flames, and rushed the injured to MGM Hospital.”

The Kalamboli police said that Soham was brought dead to the hospital. “Ashwini said in her statement that the blast happened after she turned the knob of cylinder and clicked the lighter. Currently, we have registered an accidental death report,” a police official said.

Mr. Sawant said the intensity of the blast was high, but the resulting fire was not big.

“We managed to douse the fire even before the fire brigade arrived. Officials from CIDCO, the Panvel Municipal Corporation, and the fire and police departments visited the spot and carried out a panchnama. I will start repair work or else the structure will pose a danger to occupants.”

Mr. Jadhav works in a transport firm and had moved to the building only a month ago. Mr. Katte, a driver, had been living there for the last six years. He and his wife have two daughters too, who were in Satara, their home town. Soham had returned from there only four days ago. The couple were treated for their injuries and discharged by Thursday afternoon, and have left for Satara for Soham’s last rites.