Hotel Blast Injures Family of Four in Pachmarhi, LPG Cylinder Explosion Under Investigation

The incident took place at Serenity Hotel, located barely 200 metres from the Pachmarhi police station. According to police officials, the injured include Pradeep Gadodiya, a resident of Buldhana district in Maharashtra, his wife Reema Gadodiya (37), and their two sons — Moresh (5) and Naman. All four were staying at the hotel as tourists. The hotel’s cook, Rakesh, a local resident of Pachmarhi, also sustained burn injuries in the explosion.

Eyewitnesses said the force of the blast was strong enough to shake nearby structures, including Pandav Retreat, situated about 20 metres from the hotel. Parts of the hotel’s ground floor were damaged, and debris was scattered within the premises. However, no fatalities were reported.

Pachmarhi Police Station in-charge Padam Singh Maurya reached the spot with his team shortly after the incident. The injured were rushed to the Pachmarhi government hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment. Hospital sources said the victims suffered burn injuries of varying severity, but their condition is stable.

Preliminary information suggests that the explosion was caused by an LPG cylinder used in the hotel’s kitchen. Police officials said a detailed investigation is underway to determine whether the blast resulted from a gas leak, improper storage, or negligence in handling the cylinder. Forensic teams are expected to examine the site to ascertain the exact cause.

The Serenity Hotel is owned by Sanjeev Sharma, Assistant Director of the Satpura Tiger Reserve, and has been leased and operated for the past one and a half years by Tushar Jaiswal, nephew of Congress leader Pankaj Jaiswal. Police said ownership and operational details are part of the inquiry, but no conclusions have been drawn so far.

Local authorities have temporarily restricted access to parts of the hotel as a safety measure. Officials said action will be taken if lapses in safety norms are found. The incident has once again raised concerns over fire safety and gas cylinder handling in hotels located in tourist destinations, especially during peak travel seasons.