A toto driver who was critically injured in a carbide gas cylinder explosion at a welding shop in Guskara, East Burdwan, has succumbed to his injuries, triggering tension in the area. Following his death, police have arrested the shop owner.
The blast occurred last Saturday afternoon at a local brass welding shop owned by Ganesh Roy, a resident of the Shantipur area in Guskara. Roy reportedly used carbide gas cylinders for his welding work. According to police sources, one of the cylinders suddenly exploded with a deafening sound, causing panic in the vicinity.
At the time of the explosion, 48-year-old Kanumadhab Das, a toto driver from Pilkhuri village under Dewandighi police station, was standing in front of the shop. The impact of the blast was so powerful that it blew off his right leg, leaving him critically injured.
Locals rescued him and took him to Guskara Primary Health Centre. From there, he was transferred to Burdwan Medical College Hospital. He died on Sunday. After the injured toto driver's death, Guskara police outpost arrested shop owner Ganesh Roy and sent him to court on Tuesday.
According to local sources, this is not the first time – a similar cylinder explosion had occurred at the same shop about one and a half years ago. Repeated accidents have spread anger and panic among locals. They allege that storing and using dangerous gas in a residential area is extremely risky. The administration should quickly increase surveillance and cancel licenses if safety rules are not followed.
Tension has spread in Guskara town after the incident. Police have temporarily closed the shop and started an investigation. They are initially examining whether proper safety measures were in place at the shop. Whether gas storage rules were followed at the shop is also being examined. Locals have demanded from the administration that proper measures must be taken to prevent such accidents in the future.
