A devastating gas cylinder blast on Monday (April 7) evening shook the Miyan Ki Masjid locality near Gulab Sagar in Jodhpur’s old city, claiming the lives of two people—including a 14-month-old child—and leaving 14 others severely injured. The incident has left the neighborhood in shock, as the family involved was reportedly preparing for a pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina.
The blast occurred around 4:30 PM at the residence of Mohammad Sattar Chauhan while dinner preparations were underway. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic, screaming, and chaos as fire rapidly engulfed the three-story structure. The explosion reportedly triggered a secondary blast when a nearby air compressor used for inflating vehicle tires also caught fire.
Among the deceased was Sadia, a young woman in her early twenties who was preparing for her Umrah pilgrimage. Family members revealed she had completed her packing and was due to depart on April 10. Sadia had been offering prayers in a room on the second floor when the fire broke out.
Mohammad Imran Khilji, a close relative, recounted the harrowing moments: “She managed to escape the building and come down once, but then remembered she had forgotten her hijab. She turned back to retrieve it. That’s when a burning door fell on her.” Despite being rushed to the hospital by her uncle and fire brigade personnel, Sadia succumbed to her injuries en route.
Aabida, a neighbor who witnessed the incident, said they shouted to the women in the house to come to the upper floor when the fire began. “But they locked themselves in a room, thinking it was safer. Smoke soon filled the space, and they fainted. We had to break the door to get them out.”
According to locals, had the rescue been delayed by even a few more minutes, the casualties might have been higher.
The house was shared by the families of four brothers—Iqbal, Rafiq, Salim, and Sajid—sons of the late Mohammad Sattar Chauhan. Iqbal, the eldest, ran a grocery shop from the premises. Rafiq owns a cycle repair shop in Sur Sagar, while Salim and Sajid are furniture workers.
At the time of the blast, Rafiq was at his shop, while his wife, son, and daughter-in-law were at home. His four-year-old grandson was also killed in the incident. Iqbal’s wife had passed away earlier, and all families lived under one roof in the tightly packed neighborhood.
The local media team visited the site more than 24 hours after the incident, and smoke was still seen billowing intermittently from the charred remains of the structure. The walls of the house had turned black, and authorities had cordoned off the area due to safety concerns.
Eyewitnesses reported that the narrow alleys in the area significantly delayed the arrival of fire brigade vehicles. “We could hear screaming, but fire trucks took time to get here because the lanes are so cramped,” said Abdul Rasid, a local vendor who also helped remove parked vehicles and gas cylinders to prevent further explosions.
Several people who sustained burns are currently undergoing treatment in local hospitals. Doctors have not yet commented on how long recovery might take for the severely injured.
The family had planned a large gathering three days before their scheduled Umrah flight. “They had invited friends and relatives for a pre-Umrah feast. No one had imagined that joy would turn into such overwhelming grief,” said Intakhaf, another relative.
Baby Abdul Rahim, a family acquaintance, described the moment the fire began: “At first, we thought it was just a quarrel. But when we stepped out, we saw flames. People started running with whatever they could carry. Gas cylinders were dragged outside in fear of further explosions.”
