‘Wrongful’ refilling of LPG cylinder causes death of 13-year-old neighbour

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Two days after an accidental gas cylinder explosion injured at least 13 people of a family in Mariyappanapalya, a 13-year-old boy was killed due to a similar explosion while refilling a gas cylinder in a shop near Hebbal in the city on Sunday.

The deceased was identified as Mahesh, son of Mallappa and Saraswati, a couple hailing from Yadgir district who have been working as labourers in the city for the past eight years. He was studying in sixth standard at a government school in Cholanayakanahalli in Bengaluru.

According to police, the boy was playing next to the shop in Cholanayakanahalli around 10.15 am when an explosion occurred during the wrongful refilling of a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder belonging to a local.

The boy suffered severe injuries and his body was dismembered due to the impact of the blast, sources from the police added. Following a preliminary investigation at the site, the police found that the cylinder was being filled improperly, which led to the explosion. A person, identified as Liyaqat, had been refilling the gas cylinder belonging to one Devaraj, when the blast took place.

Sources said that the shop is located next to the house of the deceased and the cylinder exploded just as the boy came close to the shop while playing outside. The boy died en route to a hospital he was being rushed to for treatment. A complaint has been filed against Liyaqat, who is currently on the run.