Jalandhar (Punjab): A powerful blast at a scrap warehouse in Jalandhar claimed the life of one person and left two others injured, triggering panic in the surrounding area on Saturday. The explosion was so intense that walls of nearby houses shook and windowpanes were shattered, residents said.
According to preliminary information, the incident occurred in the Santokhpura area, where a sudden explosion ripped through a scrap godown. One person died on the spot, while two others sustained serious injuries. The injured were rushed to the Civil Hospital for treatment.
Police from Police Station Division No. 8 reached the spot soon after receiving information and launched an investigation into the cause of the blast. Officials said it was not immediately clear what triggered the explosion. While some locals claimed that a gas cylinder may have exploded, others alleged that an explosive object such as a grenade could have been present in the scrap material stored at the warehouse.
Residents reported that the sound of the blast was heard up to a distance of nearly one kilometre. Several nearby houses suffered structural damage due to the impact. Senior police officers, along with the station in-charge, visited the site to assess the situation.
The deceased has been identified as Rajinder, a resident of Santokhpura. Police said efforts are underway to ascertain the exact cause of the blast and determine whether any explosive material was illegally stored at the site.
Further investigation is in progress.
