Maha monsoon fury: Around 3,000 LPG cylinders swept into river in Raigad after HPCL plant wall collapses

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Mumbai, July 9 (IANS) Around 3,000 LPG cylinders were swept away by floodwaters after a protective wall at the HPCL Patalganga LPG Bottling Plant in Maharashtra’s Raigad district collapsed following heavy rainfall.

Videos circulating on social media showed hundreds of gas cylinders floating in the swollen Patalganga River, drawing large crowds of onlookers who recorded the unusual sight from a nearby bridge.

According to officials, relentless rainfall caused the plant’s protective boundary wall to give way, allowing floodwaters to enter the facility. The powerful current carried away thousands of LPG cylinders, which were washed into the Patalganga River and Kharpada Creek.

The district administration said some of the cylinders may still contain LPG, prompting authorities to issue a public safety advisory. Amazed citizens were seen recording visuals of the floating cylinders from a bridge.

Raigad Collector Kishan Javle urged residents not to touch, collect, or attempt to use any cylinders found floating in the river or washed ashore. He appealed to citizens to immediately inform the authorities or hand over the cylinders to designated collection points.

Residents can deposit the recovered cylinders directly at the HPCL plant, any nearby HPCL dealer, the Tehsildar Office in Khalapur, the Tehsildar Office in the concerned area, or the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO).

The administration has advised people against storing the cylinders in their homes or handling them without proper safety measures.

“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.

Heavy rainfall has continued to batter several parts of Maharashtra over the past week, triggering floods, waterlogging, and overflowing rivers. Raigad remains among the worst-hit districts, with widespread flooding affecting normal life and prompting authorities to remain on high alert.

–IANS

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Security of BJP MP Khagen Murmu upgraded to Y+ after attack in Bengal

Kolkata, Oct 27 (IANS) The Central government has upgraded the security arrangements for a BJP Lok Sabha member from the Malda (Uttar) constituency in Malda district of West Bengal, Khagen Murmu, following the serious attack on him allegedly by Trinamool Congress activists earlier this month in the northern region of the state.

Murmu, henceforth, will be eligible for “Y plus” category security to be provided by the Union government.

On October 7, the vehicle of Murmu and BJP’s Chief Whip in the West Bengal Assembly, Shankar Ghosh, was allegedly attacked by Trinamool Congress activists at Bamundanga in Jalpaiguri district while they were on their way to Nagrakata with relief material for flood-affected people in the region.

In that attack, Murmu was severely injured, following which he had to spend quite some time in a hospital. Ghosh also received minor injuries and was hospitalised for a couple of days.

A BJP state committee member said that after the attack, a plea was forwarded to the Union Home Ministry from the party’s state unit to upgrade the security arrangements for Murmu.

“The Union Home Ministry too feels that there is a need to upgrade the security arrangements of Murmu and hence it has decided to provide ‘Y+’ security for him,” the state committee member said.

Earlier, the security arrangements for the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, had also been upgraded a number of times since 2020, considering the threat perception.

In 2024, Adhikari’s security cover was upgraded twice — first in October and then in December. In October, the Union Home Ministry expanded his Z-category security, which was earlier limited to West Bengal, to cover him throughout India, following an intelligence report on a heightened threat to his life.

Again in December last year, the Union Home Ministry upgraded his security arrangement within West Bengal, and the CAPF detail covering his convoy and public appearances was increased to at least 22 armed personnel.

–IANS

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MP: Fire in Ahmedabad-Barauni Express generator car; no casualties

Bhopal, March 31 (IANS) A fire broke out on Monday on the Ahmedabad-Barauni Express near Itarsi railway junction in Narmadapuram (formerly Hoshangabad) district of Madhya Pradesh, an official said, adding that no casualties, however, were reported.

The incident occurred between 4 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. near Khutwasa railway station, situated between Itarsi and Banapura.

Narmadapuram is 35 km away from Khutwasa.

The fire was detected in the generator and parcel car located at the rear of the moving train. A passenger first reportedly raised the alarm upon noticing smoke, which was then confirmed by the train manager.

The train, which had departed from Khandwa for Itarsi railway junction around 2 p.m., was brought to an abrupt halt near Dharamkundi railway station as smoke became visible.

The sudden stop caused panic among passengers, though officials told IANS that no casualties or damage to passengers’ property were reported.

The generator and parcel car, which was carrying cartons of steel utensils, was identified as the source of the fire. This contributed to the intense smoke and flames.

Workers stationed in the coach managed to evacuate swiftly, and the affected bogie was detached from the rest of the train to prevent further damage.

Emergency services, including the fire brigade, police officers from Dolaria police station, and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) from Itarsi, promptly arrived at the scene to bring the situation under control.

The train remained stationary for approximately one-and-a-half hours while efforts were made to extinguish the fire.

As a precautionary measure, rail traffic on the down track between Khandwa and Itarsi was suspended temporarily and later resumed around 6 p.m.

After the fire was contained and the damaged coach removed, the train resumed its journey with all its passengers, said the official.

On January 22, 2025, a tragic incident occurred on the same track near Jalgaon, Maharashtra, after a fire rumor caused panic on the Mumbai-bound Pushpak Express, resulting in at least 13 deaths as passengers jumped off the train and were hit by another train.

–IANS

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Iconic Assamese singer Zubeen Garg passes away at 52

Guwahati, Sep 19 (IANS) Celebrated Assamese singer and music legend Zubeen Garg, whose soulful voice made him a household name across the country, passed away in a tragic accident in Singapore. He was 52.

According to sources, the acclaimed singer met with an accident while scuba diving off the coast of Singapore on Thursday night. Police divers managed to pull him out of the water and rushed him to a nearby hospital.

Despite being placed under intensive medical care, doctors could not revive him.

Garg had travelled to Singapore to participate in the North East Festival, where he was scheduled to perform on Friday. His sudden demise has cast a pall of gloom over the event and across the Assamese community worldwide.

Known as the cultural icon of Assam, Zubeen Garg was not just a singer but also a composer, music director, actor, and filmmaker. With a career spanning over three decades, he lent his voice to thousands of songs in Assamese, Hindi, Bengali, and several other Indian languages.

His versatility and ability to bridge regional and mainstream music earned him immense popularity and respect. From the romantic ballad “Ya Ali,” which catapulted him to pan-India fame, to countless Assamese hits that defined the soundtrack of the region for decades, Garg’s contribution to music was unparalleled.

He also played a key role in promoting Assamese culture and the identity of the Northeast on the national stage.

Tributes and condolences have been pouring in from all quarters. Political leaders, fellow musicians, film personalities, and fans have expressed their grief at the untimely death of the singer, who was widely regarded as the voice of modern Assam.

Congress leader Ripun Bora said, “Deeply shocked and saddened by the untimely demise of our cultural icon Zubeen Garg. His voice, music, and indomitable spirit inspired generations across Assam and beyond. My heartfelt condolences to his family, fans, and loved ones. Rest in peace, Legend.”

Social media platforms have been flooded with emotional messages, with many describing Garg’s passing as an irreparable loss to India’s music industry. For millions of fans in Assam and beyond, Zubeen Garg was more than a singer — he was a cultural ambassador, a voice of identity, and a symbol of pride for the Northeast. His death leaves behind a deep void that will be hard to fill.

–IANS

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