Around 3,000 LPG cylinders were carried away by floodwaters when a protective wall at the HPCL Patalganga LPG Bottling Plant in Maharashtra’s Raigad district collapsed due to heavy rainfall.
Videos shared on social media depicted numerous gas cylinders floating in the swollen Patalganga River, attracting a crowd of spectators who captured the unusual scene from a nearby bridge.
Officials explained that incessant rainfall led to the breach of the plant’s protective barrier, enabling floodwaters to inundate the premises. The strong current dragged away thousands of LPG cylinders, washing them into the Patalganga River and Kharpada Creek.
The district administration cautioned that some cylinders might still contain LPG, prompting them to issue a safety advisory to the public. Concerned citizens were observed filming the floating cylinders from a bridge.
Raigad Collector Kishan Javle advised residents against handling or using any cylinders discovered floating in the river or washed up on the shore. He urged people to promptly notify authorities or deliver the cylinders to designated collection points.
Residents were instructed to return the retrieved cylinders directly to the HPCL plant, nearby HPCL dealers, the Tehsildar Office in Khalapur, the Tehsildar Office in the relevant area, or the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO).
Authorities warned against storing the cylinders at home or handling them without proper safety precautions, emphasizing the potential dangers of mishandling cylinders washed into the river during the floods.
Continuous heavy rainfall has pounded various regions of Maharashtra in the past week, leading to floods, waterlogging, and overflowing rivers. Raigad district has been severely impacted, with extensive flooding disrupting daily life and necessitating heightened vigilance by authorities.
