Parked Omni car gutted in fire; cylinder blast triggers panic

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

A parked Omni car caught fire near the Kamala Nehru School–Bhadra Colony area in Khuldabad around 8.30 pm on Wednesday, triggering panic after a domestic gas cylinder inside the vehicle exploded and was flung out.

The blaze intensified rapidly, and the sound of the cylinder explosion caused alarm among residents. Locals attempted to contact the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation and Khuldabad municipal fire services, but were unable to get immediate assistance. Residents acted swiftly, spraying water and managing to bring the fire under control. Fortunately, as the vehicle was parked and unoccupied, no casualties were reported. Police reached the spot after receiving information. The incident has exposed alleged lapses in the functioning of the Khuldabad municipal council. Though the council reportedly has a fire vehicle, the absence of a trained fireman delayed the response. Angry residents have expressed strong displeasure over the negligence and demanded that a fully functional fire response system be put in place to prevent future mishaps.