Pune: 10 Injured in Massive Cylinder Blast at Daund Eatery; 6 Critical with 95% Burns
In a harrowing incident that sent shockwaves through the Daund-Patas region, a powerful LPG cylinder explosion ripped through the kitchen of a popular local eatery, leaving ten workers seriously injured and the structure in ruins.
The blast occurred on Wednesday afternoon, January 7, 2026, at Hotel Jagdamba, situated along the busy Daund-Patas Ashtavinayak Road. While the explosion caused extensive structural damage, a larger tragedy was averted as no customers were present in the seating area at the time of the incident.
Critical Injuries: Victims Battle for Life at Sassoon Hospital
The impact of the explosion was primarily borne by the kitchen staff. Out of the ten workers injured, six are reported to be in extremely critical condition. According to medical officials at Sassoon General Hospital (SGH) in Pune, these victims have sustained deep facial and respiratory burns covering 90% to 95% of their bodies.
The critically injured victims have been identified as:
- Dipak (25)
- Kanhaiya (24)
- Maniram (21)
- Ram Prakash (24)
- Mohan Verma (19)
- One minor (name withheld)
Dr. Yallapa Jadhav, Medical Superintendent of SGH, stated that the medical team is doing its best to stabilize the patients, though their condition remains grim due to the severity of the burns.
The Investigation: Illegal Use of Domestic Cylinders Suspected
Preliminary investigations by the Daund Police and the Fire Brigade point toward LPG leakage from a domestic cylinder as the primary cause of the blast.
Upon reaching the spot, teams from the Kurkumbh MIDC and Daund Municipal Council fire stations discovered a concerning stockpile of fuel. Fire Officer Kiran Patil confirmed that at least 20 cylinders were removed from the premises, including 12 domestic cylinders and 10 commercial ones.
#WATCH | Pune, Maharashtra: A cylinder explosion occurred at the Jagdamba Hotel near Daund Patas Road.
— ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2026
DYSP Bapurao Dadas says, "Between 12:30 and 1:00 PM, a gas cylinder explosion was reported at the Jagdamba Hotel near Daund Patas Road. Ten labourers working at the hotel… pic.twitter.com/3Y82zwA7yW
The use of domestic LPG cylinders for commercial purposes is a serious violation of safety regulations. Authorities are now probing whether criminal negligence played a role in the disaster. “We are investigating the legality of the cylinder storage and will determine if a case of negligence should be registered against the management,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bapurao Dadas.
Structural Damage and Emergency Response
The force of the explosion was so immense that it shattered the hotel’s glass windows and blew off the tin sheets of the kitchen roof. Furniture and utensils were found scattered across the road outside the eatery.
Local residents were the first to respond, rushing the injured to a private hospital in Daund before the critically burnt workers were shifted to Pune. Firefighters managed to douse the subsequent blaze and safely evacuated two additional leaking cylinders, preventing a secondary explosion.
Safety Concerns for Migrant Workers
The incident has once again highlighted the precarious safety conditions for migrant workers in the hospitality sector. All the victims in the Daund cylinder blast are migrant labourers, mostly from the Agra district of Uttar Pradesh. As the Daund police continue their inquiry, local activists are calling for stricter safety audits of roadside eateries along the Pune-Solapur and Daund-Patas highways to prevent such recurring tragedies.
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