The Traders Federation Uri observed a complete shutdown on Wednesday to press their demand for time-bound inquiry into the recent Lagama LPG cylinder blast which left five of a family dead.
The traders and the relatives of the deceased had termed theblast as “mysterious” and demanded thorough investigation into the incident.
Haji Sanaullah, President, Traders’ Federation Uri said theexplosion left five of a family dead while one is still battling for life atAIMS Delhi. He said the intensity and the circumstances of the incident suggestthat it should be probed.
“The relatives of the deceased are shocked. They could notbelieve that the leakage in the 5-kg cylinder from which maximum gas hadalready exhausted by daily use, could cause such a catastrophe. In this hour ofgrief, we are with the family and request the authorities to initiate aninquiry into the incident,” he said.
On May 27, as per police, in the gas cylinder explosion atLagama Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, six members of a family werecritically injured.
The injured had been shifted to SKIMS hospital for advancedtreatment. “Four members including mother and her three teen age daughterssuccumbed at SKIMS, while two injured were shifted to AIIMS Delhi on thedirection of Governor administration.”
At AIIMS, one of the injured, six year old boy succumbed tohis injuries taking the total death toll to five. While one more injured, isbattling for the life since last one week at AIIMS.
The incident shocked entire area of Uri generating demandfor the transparent probe into the incident.
Shabir Ahmad, a kin of the victim family, said the incidenthas devastated the entire family. He said there are serious questions whichneed to be answered. He said if gas cylinder was intact and did not explodethen what type of explosion happened inside the house. “The deceased had burninjuries and it is presumed that they might have died due to the gas leak.However, why there was huge explosion which was heard three kilometres from theplace of incidence? If gas cylinder did not explode then what caused explosion?We believe there is some conspiracy which need to be unearthed,” said ShabirAhmad.
The family belong to Silkote village, which is close to Lineof Control and had shifted to the Lagama village few years back.
SSP Baramulla, Abdul Qayoom, said that police have alreadyinitiated inquiry into the incident which otherwise is a normal procedure.”However, if family has any doubt then they need to wait for the FSL report.”
“Police talked to the injured family members when they werealive. They said it was a gas cylinder explosion which occurred when they werein the house. We have sent samples for the chemical examination. Once reportwill come it will be shared with the relatives of the victim family,” he said.