A quiet Friday night turned into a nightmare for residents of Mandiala village on the Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur highway, as an LPG tanker explosion killed two people and left over 50 injured. The massive fire that burned homes, shops, and automobiles caused chaos and fear throughout the area.
The Deadly Collision
Around 10 pm, a Mahindra pickup truck rammed into an LPG tanker near Mandiala village. The tanker caught fire as a result of the impact, according to witnesses, and a loud explosion could be heard for kilometers.The pickup truck’s driver, who has not been named, was trapped inside his vehicle and died from burn injuries.
Before locals could react, the unexpected explosion swept fire over neighboring homes and businesses, turning many of them to ashes.Some villagers were asleep until the screams and the thunderous boom of the fire consuming their houses woke them up.
Chaos and Rescue Efforts
Within minutes, the fire swallowed entire stretches of the highway. Rescue crews hurried to the scene, including fire departments from Adampur, Hoshiarpur, and Jalandhar. Police and medical staff scrambled to shift the injured to nearby civil hospitals.
Hoshiarpur Civil Surgeon Dr. Pawan Kumar confirmed one death at his hospital and added that five patients were in critical condition. “Immediate medical care is being provided to all injured. Several ambulances are still ferrying patients from the accident site,” he said.
Villagers described frantic scenes, with relatives running from hospital to hospital in search of missing family members. Gurmukh Singh, a survivor, revealed that six members of his family sustained severe burns after their house caught fire. “We didn’t even have time to escape. Our entire house was gutted,” he said.
Officials Step In
Senior officials, including Punjab Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh, visited the mishap site and hospitals to assure families of government support. Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain confirmed that teams from the Adampur air base, Unchi Bassi army cantonment, and State Disaster Response Force had been called in to assist.
“The collision between an LPG tanker and a pickup truck led to the fire and subsequent catastrophic incident,” Jain said.
The administration has promised compensation for victims and immediate relief for those who lost homes and livelihoods.
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Fear and Aftermath in Mandiala
For Mandiala residents, the night of August 22 will remain etched as a dark memory. According to survivors, the intense winds aided in the flames’ quick spread, leaving people with little time to react. With homes and businesses devastated to rubble, many families are now homeless.
The tanker driver’s identity and whether speeding or negligence caused the collision are still unknown. Police are expected to file a case following the conclusion of the initial inquiry.The tragedy raises pressing questions about highway safety and the transportation of hazardous materials.
Locals are demanding stricter checks on heavy vehicles carrying inflammable cargo through densely populated areas.Mandiala remains in ruins for the time being, its inhabitants still struggling with loss, sadness, and injury.
