In a devastating incident in Meerut, an oxygen cylinder explosion claimed the lives of six family members, including a pregnant woman and a toddler. The blast, which occurred around 8 PM on Monday in Ashapuri Colony, Sikandrabad, Bulandshahr, partially collapsed their two-storey home, which also doubled as a warehouse for construction materials. The explosion was so intense that it was reportedly felt up to 500 meters away.
The deceased were identified as Mohd Riyazuddin (50), his wife Rukhsana (45), their sons Aas Mohammad (26) and Salman (16), daughter Tamanna (24), and her 3-year-old daughter Hifza. Two other sons, Shahrukh (26) and Siraj (30), sustained critical injuries, with Shahrukh being transferred to a hospital in Delhi for further treatment.
Tamanna’s husband, Mohd Rizwan, expressed his profound grief, revealing that his wife was nine months pregnant and had come to visit her ailing mother when the tragedy struck. Heartbroken, he mourned the loss of his wife, daughter, and unborn child.
Witnesses described the chaos following the explosion, with one local stating it felt like an earthquake due to the blast’s strength. Rescue teams, including local police and emergency services, worked tirelessly through the night to clear the rubble and recover the victims. The last rites for the family members were held on Tuesday afternoon.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed officials to ensure the injured receive proper medical care. Bulandshahr District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh confirmed that 18 people were living in the house and that extensive rescue efforts were undertaken to find any survivors beneath the debris.
