Bengaluru cylinder blast: 10 migrant workers injured in Bommasandra PG explosion

Blast rocks PG in electronics city outskirts

A suspected LPG cylinder explosion ripped through a paying guest (PG) accommodation in Bommasandra, on the outskirts of Bengaluru, on Thursday morning. Ten migrant workers from West Bengal were injured in the blast, police sources said.

The incident occurred around 6.30 am in a densely populated residential area near the Bommasandra industrial zone, which houses several electronics and manufacturing units.

Gas leak suspected as primary cause

Initial investigations indicate that the explosion was caused by a leak from an LPG cylinder used for cooking in the PG’s common kitchen. The accumulated gas is believed to have ignited, leading to a powerful blast that damaged walls and windows of the building.

Fire tenders and police teams rushed to the spot after neighbours alerted authorities. The injured were pulled out from the debris and rushed to a nearby hospital.

Injured workers from West Bengal

All ten victims are migrant labourers, originally from West Bengal, who were employed in factories and service sector jobs in the area. Hospital sources said some of them have suffered burn injuries and fractures. A few are reported to be in serious condition.

Local residents said the PG housed around 15 to 20 workers. The building has been sealed for investigation. Gas supply to the premises has been cut off as a precaution.

The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Explosives Act. They are questioning the PG owner and other occupants to ascertain if there was any negligence in handling the cylinder.

Previous incidents highlight gas safety concerns

This is not the first such incident in Bengaluru’s industrial suburbs. In 2024, a similar blast in a PG in Whitefield had injured six workers. Activists have repeatedly flagged the lack of safety audits in unregulated paying guest accommodations that house thousands of migrant workers.

The Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority has been asked to inspect all PGs in the Bommasandra-Jigani industrial belt for compliance with fire and gas safety norms.

Officials have not yet confirmed whether the cylinder used was of standard quality or if the premises had proper ventilation. A detailed forensic report is awaited.

What happens next: The police are expected to file a chargesheet once the investigation concludes. The city corporation is likely to issue a notice to all PG operators in the area to conduct mandatory safety checks within a week.