Maharashtra: Around 3,000 LPG cylinders from HPCL Bottling Plant swept away by floodwaters in Raigad

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Heavy rainfall in Maharashtra’s Raigad district washed away around 3,000 LPG cylinders from the HPCL Patalganga LPG Bottling Plant in Chavane, Panvel, with many seen floating in the Patalganga River and Kharpada Creek. Videos of the cylinders drifting in the floodwaters were recorded by people standing on a nearby bridge.

Officials said the plant’s protection wall gave way after continuous heavy rain, allowing floodwater to enter the premises. The strong current then carried the cylinders into the river. The cylinders were washed away into the Patalganga River and Kharpada Creek. The administration said some of the cylinders may still contain LPG, making them a serious safety risk.

The local administration, the Disaster Management Department, and HPCL have launched a search operation for the missing cylinders. The search teams are currently monitoring the course of the Patalganga River to recover the missing stock and prevent any untoward incidents. 

Administration issues safety advisory

Khalapur Police Inspector (PI) Abhijit Bhujbal confirmed the incident, following which the district administration issued an urgent appeal to the public to exercise extreme caution. Citizens have been urged to maintain a safe distance and immediately report any sightings of suspicious cylinders to the local police or the Disaster Management Department.

Citizens who find any cylinder have been asked to hand it over to the HPCL plant, any nearby HPCL dealer, the Tehsildar Office in Khalapur, the Tehsildar Office, or the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Office. Raigad Collector Kishan Javle has urged people not to keep any of the floating cylinders at home. He said there is no way to confirm whether the cylinders still contain gas or are safe to handle.

“There is no guarantee whether the cylinders washed into the river contain gas or whether they are in a safe condition. Picking them up, opening them, or taking them home out of curiosity or for use could be extremely dangerous,” the collector said.

Raigad has been among the worst-hit districts in Maharashtra as continuous rain over the past week has caused flooding and rivers to overflow in several areas.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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