An LPG cylinder blast on Tuesday morning flattened a single-storey house in north Delhi’s Mukundpur area, injuring 11 people and leaving a woman in critical condition, officials said. Rescue teams are continuing search-and-rescue operations and clearing debris amid local efforts to pull out survivors.

Blast and collapse

The explosion occurred around 9:37 am in Gali No. 1, Ishu Vihar, Mukundpur-II, close to a cremation ground, the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) said. A distress call reporting a blast and a collapsed structure prompted an immediate response by DFS and police units, who feared people might be trapped under rubble.

“Information was received that a blast had taken place and a building had collapsed, trapping people inside. Rescue teams were immediately rushed to the spot and search and rescue operations were launched,” a DFS official said.

Initial rescues

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North) Hareshwar Swami said police and emergency responders, along with locals, pulled 11 people out of the wreckage. Four to five injured persons were first evacuated by nearby residents and patrol personnel and moved to a local hospital. One woman sustained severe burn injuries and was reported to be in critical condition late Tuesday morning.

Prima facie cause

Preliminary inquiries suggest the explosion may have occurred while gas was being transferred from a larger cylinder to a smaller one, Swami added. Several LPG cylinders were recovered at the site. He also said that a utensil-colouring unit appeared to be operating from the house, which officials are probing as a possible factor in the blast.

Ground response and eyewitness accounts

Residents described loud, sudden blast-like sound that sent up a cloud of dust. “The moment I heard a loud blast-like sound, the first thing that came to my mind was that a gas cylinder had exploded. We immediately ran towards the spot and found that a house had collapsed,” an eyewitness told reporters at the scene. Neighbours and shopkeepers joined the rescue effort, using tools and bare hands to clear debris before emergency teams arrived.

Another local, who helped pull victims out, said he suffered minor injuries but continued to assist until officials took over. Authorities said clearing operations were ongoing to ensure no one remained trapped inside the 250-square-yard single-storey structure.

Hospital care and condition

Injured residents were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Officials did not immediately disclose the names or ages of those hurt, citing ongoing medical assessments. A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed receiving multiple patients from the Mukundpur incident, including the woman with critical burns, and said specialists had been mobilised for burn care and trauma management.

Separate blast in East Delhi

Police said a separate cylinder blast in Shahdara’s Ajit Nagar injured four people around 1:30 pm on Tuesday. Shahdara Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajendra Prasad Meena said the explosion at a house in Gandhi Nagar likely stemmed from a leaking gas cylinder pipe. Head Constable Rahul and Constable Kuldeep rescued a woman, her husband and children from the first floor and shifted them to hospital. Both the Shahdara and Mukundpur incidents are under investigation.

Investigations under way

Delhi police and fire officials are jointly probing the Mukundpur explosion. Investigators are collecting the recovered cylinders and examining whether illegal industrial activity — the reported utensil-colouring unit — or unsafe gas-handling practices contributed to the blast. Officials said they would also review whether any unauthorised storage of cylinders or non-compliance with safety norms occurred at the site.

Public safety concerns

The twin incidents have renewed concerns about unsafe handling of LPG cylinders and clandestine small-scale manufacturing units operating from residential buildings in multiple parts of the city. Local residents urged stricter enforcement and periodic safety inspections, particularly in congested neighbourhoods where homes double as workspaces.

What’s next

Police said further details, including formal cause and casualty list, will be released after forensic work and statements from survivors. Meanwhile, authorities have appealed to residents in the area to stay clear of the site to allow uninterrupted rescue and investigation work.

Nine Killed in Early Morning Blaze at Delhi's Vivek Vihar Building

Suspected AC Blast Triggers Deadly Fire in Shahdara Residential Complex

At least nine people, including a 1.5-year-old child, lost their lives after a massive fire engulfed a four-storey residential building in Vivek Vihar, Shahdara, in the early hours of Sunday. The blaze, believed to have been triggered by an air-conditioner blast, spread rapidly through the upper floors, trapping residents as smoke filled the structure.

Fire services received the first call around 3:27-3:48 am. Multiple tenders rushed to the spot within minutes. By the time flames were brought under control around 8 am, rescue teams had recovered nine charred bodies and saved 10-15 others, two of whom suffered minor injuries.

Families Wiped Out

The victims belonged to two Jain families living in the building. On the second floor, five members of one family perished: Arvind Jain (60), his wife Anita Jain (58), their son Nishant Jain (35), daughter-in-law Anchal Jain (33), and their toddler grandson, Master Akash Jain (1.5 years). Another resident, Shikha Jain (45), died on the first floor.

On the third floor, another family was found huddled near a locked terrace door: Nitin Jain (around 50), his wife Shailey Jain (around 48), and their son Samyak Jain (around 25). Their bodies were recovered after intense search operations. Naveen Jain (48), husband of the deceased Shikha Jain, was among the injured and shifted to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital.

AC Blast Suspected as Trigger

Preliminary enquiries point to an explosion in an air-conditioner unit installed at the rear of the building as the likely cause. Local resident Rohit, who spoke to reporters, recalled the sequence: “A blast in the AC triggered the fire. It started around 3:13 am... Fire tenders arrived at around 3:35 am.” The flames quickly spread to the second, third, and fourth floors, turning the building facade black with soot.

Intense Rescue Operation

Delhi Fire Services deployed up to 14 tenders and over 80 personnel. Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) staff, traffic police, and local officers cordoned off the area as anxious relatives and neighbours gathered outside. Municipal Councillor Pankaj Luthra reached the spot soon after and described the grim scene: bodies were located on the back side of the second floor and upper levels.

DCP Shahdara, Rajendra Prasad Meena, confirmed that the fire was brought under control after a prolonged operation. “We got the call at around 4 AM. Fire tenders rushed to the spot,” he told ANI. Bodies were later shifted to hospital for formal identification.

Safety Concerns Surface

The incident has once again highlighted challenges with fire safety in densely populated residential areas of east Delhi. Iron grilles on windows and a locked terrace reportedly hampered escape routes for several victims. Many buildings in such localities have limited entry-exit points, adding to risks during emergencies.

As news of the tragedy spread, local leaders expressed shock and offered condolences. Authorities have initiated further investigation into the exact cause, even as questions are being raised about adherence to fire safety norms in older residential complexes.

Community in Mourning

By late morning, the area wore a sombre look. Acquaintances of the deceased stood in small groups, some consoling family members who had rushed to the spot. Ambulances moved in and out as the grim task of handing over bodies continued. The surviving injured are under treatment, and officials said support would be extended to affected families.

This is the latest in a series of fire incidents in the national capital that have claimed lives, often during early morning hours when most residents are asleep. Fire officials have appealed to citizens to ensure proper maintenance of electrical appliances and keep escape routes clear, especially in multi-storey buildings.