A mysterious explosion inside a residential apartment in Agartala's Ramnagar locality on Thursday afternoon left three people injured, one of them critically, while causing extensive damage to the flat and surrounding residential buildings.
Police authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the blast and in the evening, senior officials claimed that the explosion inside a residential flat occurred due to leakage of domestic pipe line gas of Tripura Natural Gas Corporation Limited (TNGCL).
The explosion occurred in a flat at Ramnagar road number-4, reportedly functioning as a mathematics coaching centre and office. The impact of the blast was so powerful that it shattered glass windows, damaged furniture and household belongings, and affected several adjoining flats and nearby houses.
Police, firefighters personnel, and officials of the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) rushed to the spot soon after the incident and secured the area. The injured were immediately shifted to GB Hospital for treatment.
According to local residents, one of the victims suffered severe burn injuries and remains in critical condition.
Speaking with media persons at the site, Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) and local MLA Dipak Majumder said the exact cause of the explosion was yet to be established.
"A blast took place inside a flat where office-related activities were being conducted. At this stage, no one can say what triggered the explosion. The impact was massive, damaging not only the flat but also neighbouring apartments and houses. The police investigation will reveal the actual cause," he said.
The Mayor said the loud explosion created panic in the locality, prompting residents to rush out of their homes in fear. Several families in adjacent buildings also reported damage to their property and were left shaken by the incident.
Expressing concern over safety measures in residential complexes, Majumder said the AMC would review existing emergency preparedness and rescue mechanisms to prevent similar incidents in the future.
"This incident could have resulted in a much larger tragedy. We will examine whether adequate safety measures are in place and identify areas where improvements are necessary," he added.
Meanwhile, some local residents claimed that the force of the explosion suggested that certain materials might have been stored inside the flat. However, officials have neither confirmed nor ruled out any such possibility.
Police officials said forensic experts and technical teams examined the site as part of the investigation. Evidence is being collected from the scene, while persons associated with the premises are also being questioned.
In the evening SDPO(Sadar) Debaprasad Roy said that based on the evidence collected from the explosion site, police along with forensic experts found there was a leakage in the PNG line at the kitchen of the flat, which was the possible reason for the explosion. Police team is also waiting for the final investigation report by the Tripura Natural Gas Corporation Limited (TNGCL), said Roy.