At least 11 individuals suffered severe burn injuries when an LPG cylinder exploded at a roadside food cart in West Champaran’s Lauria market area. The incident, which occurred around 1:30 p.m., resulted in 11 people being directly caught in the flames. Eyewitnesses reported a minor gas leak from the cylinder earlier in the day, which was allegedly overlooked due to the market’s heavy footfall.
The Station House Officer (SHO) of Lauria police station mentioned that four of the injured are in critical condition. As temperatures rose, the cylinder overheated and exploded suddenly, causing panic in the market area. Nearby shopkeepers likened the sound of the explosion to that of a bomb, leading to flames spreading rapidly and burning bystanders’ clothes.
Local residents acted promptly, using water from buckets and bottles to extinguish the flames. The fire was eventually brought under control after nearly half an hour of effort. The injured were rushed to Lauria Health Centre by locals in autorickshaws and motorcycles, where medical treatment commenced immediately.
Many of the injured sustained severe burns to their faces, chests, hands, and legs, with some still in critical condition. Following initial treatment, the seriously injured were transferred to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Bettiah for advanced care. The owner of the food cart was also among those injured in the blast.
Police arrived at the scene promptly, seizing the remnants of the exploded cylinder. Initial investigations suggest that a gas leak from an old cylinder may have triggered the explosion. Authorities are interviewing eyewitnesses and shopkeepers, with plans to send the cylinder debris for forensic analysis as part of ongoing investigations.
