India
Worker Killed, Four Hurt as Oxygen Cylinder Explodes During Unloading in Okhla
A 35-year-old worker died and four others were injured on Wednesday morning after a commercial oxygen cylinder exploded while being unloaded at a godown in Okhla Phase-I. The deceased, identified as Mohit Singh, a resident of Jaipur, worked as a helper at SM Traders, a firm involved in the local distribution of industrial oxygen cylinders. He had been employed there for about three years. Police said the incident took place around 10:43 a.m. at D-23, Okhla Phase-I. A Tata 407 truck registered to SM Traders had arrived at the site carrying commercial oxygen cylinders from Ghaziabad. Initial investigations indicate that as workers were unloading the cylinders and transferring them into the godown, one cylinder fell from the vehicle onto the road and exploded. The precise technical cause of the blast has not yet been determined and will be established once forensic and technical teams examine the site, the cylinder, the vehicle, and other related evidence. Mohit Singh died at the scene. Four other workers—Umesh, Arvind, Manoj, and Pankaj—were injured and taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre for treatment. The godown, rented by SM Traders, has been in operation at the location for roughly one to two years. According to preliminary findings, the firm receives filled oxygen cylinders from Ghaziabad and distributes them to local traders and industrial units, mainly in the Okhla area. Police confirmed that no oxygen-filling plant was present at the premises. The firm reportedly handles about 70 to 80 cylinders daily, though this figure is still being verified through stock registers, sales and purchase records, and invoices. Authorities are also examining the source of the cylinders, the credentials of the supplier, ownership details, and whether proper licences and permissions were obtained for storage, handling, and transportation. The site has been secured, and investigations into the exact cause of the explosion are ongoing.