Hubbali, Karnataka (December 23, 2025): Nine devotees sustained serious burn injuries in an LPG cylinder blast at a Shiva temple in Hubbali late Sunday night, police said.
The explosion occurred around 1:30 AM in Sainagar, where a group of Lord Ayyappa devotees were sleeping in the temple room. The devotees were preparing for a trip to Kerala’s Sabarimala when the blast took place.
Police believe the explosion was caused by the devotees failing to properly turn off the cylinder knob after cooking. The nine injured individuals were immediately rushed to KIMS Hospital, where their condition remains critical.
N. Shashi Kumar, Commissioner of Police, confirmed that 14 people were sleeping in the temple building at the time of the incident. Nine people on the first floor were injured while four others on the ground floor escaped unhurt.
(With inputs from agencies)