Cylinders explode in shut dhaba housing 10 labourer families near Soddi in Mangalvedha; no casualties
Gas cylinders exploded in a closed roadside eatery in Solapur district, destroying the belongings of 10 migrant labourer families and four two-wheelers.
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A powerful gas cylinder explosion tore through a closed dhaba in the Soddi area on Umadi Road in Mangalvedha taluka of Solapur district. Ten labourer families from Latur district were living in the dhaba. The blast blew off the tin sheets of their living quarters and burnt all their household belongings. Four two-wheelers were also caught in the fire and reduced to ashes. No one was killed.
The families come from Nilanga in Ausa taluka of Latur district. Soddi lies in the southern part of Mangalvedha taluka, on the border of Solapur and Sangli districts. The families have been living here for the past 15 years in search of work, pruning grape orchards. Their livelihood depends on going wherever wages are available. After coming to Soddi for work, they had to make their living arrangements in this closed dhaba.
This afternoon the labourers had gone to the farm of the area's former sarpanch for pruning work. Meanwhile, a gas explosion suddenly occurred at their living quarters. It was said that there were about six cylinders there, so six loud blasts were heard one after another. The sounds spread fear among people in the vicinity.
Tall flames were seen after the blasts. Some staff of a nearby school were preparing to go and help put out the fire, but another blast was heard and they stopped at a safe distance. The Mangalvedha fire brigade was informed. A fire brigade team reached the spot and brought the fire under control. By then the labourers' living quarters had been heavily damaged.
A secondary school stands a short distance from the blast site, which has also raised the question of the safety of children. Although no one was killed, the cause of the blast has not yet become clear.
The labourer families' clothes, household items and all their other belongings were destroyed in the fire. The four two-wheelers were completely burnt, two of which had been bought new only a few months ago. The household they had built through years of hard work was wrecked in a matter of moments. For these families, who run their homes on daily wages, this is a major financial blow, and they now face the challenge of setting up their home afresh.
On receiving information about the incident, the patwari, gram sevak and tahsildar visited the spot and inspected the site.
