Three people were killed and over 20 others were injured after a massive fire broke out following a collision between an LPG tanker and a pickup vehicle loaded with vegetables in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district. The accident occurred around 10 pm on Friday near Mandiala Adda on the Hoshiarpur–Jalandhar road. The impact of the collision caused the tanker to explode, triggering a blaze that quickly spread to nearly 15 shops and four to five residential houses in the vicinity.
Hoshiarpur Superintendent of Police (Investigation) Mukesh Kumar confirmed that the death toll rose to three after 28-year-old Dharminder Verma of Mandiala village succumbed to severe burn injuries while being shifted to the Government Medical College, Amritsar. The two others killed in the incident were tanker driver Sukhjeet Singh from Ludhiana district and Balwant Rai of Mandiala village.
Civil Surgeon Dr Pawan Kumar said that many of the injured had sustained critical burn injuries, with several being referred to higher medical institutions for advanced treatment. Among the injured were entire families who were caught off guard as flames entered their homes in the middle of the night. Survivors described scenes of chaos, with people trying desperately to save children and elderly relatives from the inferno.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced financial aid of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and assured free medical care for all injured victims. Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria also expressed grief, extending condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the injured. Cabinet Minister Dr Ravjot Singh, MLA Bram Shanker Jimpa, MP Raj Kumar Chabbewal, and Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain visited the affected site, assuring residents that the government would provide all necessary assistance.
Meanwhile, the tragedy sparked protests as residents of Mandiala and nearby villages blocked traffic on the Hoshiarpur–Jalandhar road for over three hours, demanding adequate compensation and strict action against those responsible. The agitation was called off only after Sub-Divisional Magistrate Gursimranjeet Kaur intervened and promised fair compensation as well as an investigation into the incident.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, along with MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, visited the hospital to meet the injured. Warring alleged that the tanker might have been illegally diverted for gas refilling and demanded a probe into the matter. He further urged that families who lost members be given at least Rs 1 crore in compensation, in addition to relief for damaged homes and businesses.
Senior BJP leader Avinash Rai Khanna and former MLA Mohinder Kaur Josh also met the victims at the hospital, emphasizing that all political parties must work together in providing relief to the affected families.
Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain said the affected stretch of highway was sealed immediately after the accident to prevent further mishaps. A State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team was deployed for monitoring, while safety inspections were ordered at nearby gas depots to rule out further risks.
Personal accounts from survivors painted a harrowing picture. Raghav, a 20-year-old local resident, said he and his mother were engulfed in flames after hearing the explosion. Bhagwan Das, originally from Madhya Pradesh, recounted how his wife and three children sustained burns while asleep in their room. Another resident, Gurmukh Singh, said his family members were caught in the fire while he narrowly saved his grandson by wrapping him in a blanket.
Police have registered an FIR under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 324(4) (mischief causing property damage) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. According to the complaint, the LPG tanker was turning toward the Ram Nagar Dheha link road when it collided with the pickup vehicle, sparking the deadly blaze that left the community devastated.
