Two children among the injured as flames from a traditional stove ignite accumulated gas in Paipkhara area.

A late-night fire in the Paipkhara area has left four members of a family, including two young children, with severe burn injuries after a calf accidentally knocked over a gas cylinder connection, causing a major leak.

The incident, which took place late Tuesday evening, completely gutted the house belonging to Yashodanand Shukla. According to initial reports from local authorities, the family was sitting in the courtyard having their dinner when the accident occurred inside an adjoining room.

How the Leak Happened

Officials said a calf had been tied up inside the same room where the household LPG cylinder was kept. Preliminary investigation suggests the cylinder’s regulator was left open, and when the calf moved and bumped into the setup, the connecting pipe came off. This led to a rapid, unchecked build-up of cooking gas inside the confined space.

The family, unaware of the leak, continued with their evening routine.

Family Unaware Until Too Late

As the gas spread from the room into the open courtyard, it came into contact with the flame of a traditional chulha (mud stove) where food was being prepared. Sources familiar with the matter said the fire flashed over almost instantly.

"Within seconds, the flames turned severe. The entire house was engulfed," a neighbour recalled, adding that by the time people rushed out, the situation was already out of control.The four victims have been identified as Yashodanand Shukla, Indrakali Shukla, and two children, Ayushman and Divyansh. All of them sustained serious burns and were rushed to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital by locals and police personnel.

Police Investigation Underway

CSP Ritu Upadhyay confirmed that a preliminary inquiry points to the gas leak as the primary cause of the blaze. “The fire spread with such intensity that the family, seated in the courtyard, barely had any time to react or escape,” an official statement noted.

Local authorities have registered the case and are investigating the exact sequence of events. No formal negligence has been established yet, but officials have begun appealing to residents in the area to exercise greater caution when handling LPG cylinders.

Ground-Level Impact

The fire not only caused severe physical injuries but also destroyed almost all household belongings. Neighbours made frantic efforts to douse the flames with buckets of water and blankets, but the fire had already consumed most of the structure by the time fire tenders arrived.

The condition of the two children is said to be critical, though hospital authorities have not yet released an official bulletin.

Appeal for Safety Awareness

Following the incident, local police have urged residents to ensure regulators are turned off when the cylinder is not in use and to keep animals or children away from LPG connections. This is the second such fire-related accident reported in the Rewa district this month, raising fresh concerns about household safety practices. Officials say a detailed report will be submitted to the district administration by Friday.