Mumbai, 9 July
Video: 3000 Gas Cylinders Float In River As Flood Water Breaches HPCL Plant
Around 3,000 LPG cylinders were swept away into the Patalganga River after heavy rainfall breached the protective wall of the HPCL Patalganga LPG Bottling Plant in Maharashtra‘s Raigad district. The unusual incident has sparked safety concerns, with authorities warning that some of the cylinders may still contain gas.
Videos showing hundreds of LPG cylinders floating down the river and into the Kharpada Creek have gone viral on social media, drawing widespread attention. Many residents were seen filming the cylinders drifting with the floodwaters from bridges and nearby riverbanks. 3000 Gas Cylinders Float In River As Flood Water Breaches HPCL Plant.
How did the incident happen? – 3000 Gas Cylinders Float In River As Flood Water Breaches HPCL Plant.
According to officials, torrential rainfall over the past week caused the protective boundary wall of the HPCL Patalganga LPG Bottling Plant to collapse. Floodwaters then entered the plant premises, washing away thousands of LPG cylinders stored at the facility.
The powerful current carried the cylinders into the Patalganga River and adjoining Kharpada Creek.
Authorities said it is still being assessed how many cylinders have been recovered and how many remain missing.
Some cylinders may still contain LPG
The district administration has warned that some of the cylinders swept away by the floodwaters may still be filled with LPG, making them potentially hazardous.
Officials cautioned residents against touching, transporting, opening, or attempting to use any cylinder found in the river or nearby areas. 3000 Gas Cylinders Float In River As Flood Water Breaches HPCL Plant.
“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,” Raigad Collector Kishan Javle said.
Administration issues public advisory
The Raigad district administration has appealed to citizens who come across any floating or stranded LPG cylinders to immediately inform the authorities instead of taking them home.
People have been asked to hand over the recovered cylinders at any of the following locations:
- HPCL Patalganga LPG Bottling Plant
- Any nearby HPCL LPG dealer
- Tehsildar Office, Khalapur
- Concerned Tehsildar Offices
- Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Office
Officials stressed that public cooperation is essential to safely recover the cylinders and prevent accidents.
Floods continue to batter Maharashtra
The incident comes as Maharashtra continues to experience intense rainfall that has caused flooding in several districts over the past week. 3000 Gas Cylinders Float In River As Flood Water Breaches HPCL Plant.
Raigad has emerged as one of the worst-affected districts, with overflowing rivers, waterlogging, and disruption to normal life reported from multiple areas.
The heavy rains have prompted rescue operations and precautionary measures across vulnerable regions, while authorities continue to monitor river levels and weather conditions.
The recovery of the cylinders is expected to continue over the coming days as officials work to locate those carried downstream and ensure they are safely removed without posing a risk to nearby communities.