KKN Gurugram Desk | A devastating fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday morning in the Andar Bazaar area of Siwan district, Bihar, claiming the lives of a mother and her 10-year-old son, while another child was critically injured. The cause of the tragedy has been identified as a gas cylinder leakage that triggered a massive blaze inside the family’s home.

This tragic incident has once again raised serious concerns about domestic gas safety, emergency response preparedness, and the urgent need for public awareness around handling LPG cylinders.

The Incident: Fire Erupts from LPG Cylinder Leak

 Location: Andar Bazaar, Siwan District, Bihar
 Time: Around 6:00 AM on Saturday
 Casualties: Two dead, one critically injured

According to initial reports, the fire started when leaked LPG gas ignited in a residential home located in Maddeshilapur village under Andar police station. The flames rapidly engulfed the house, leaving little time for the occupants to escape.

Victims Identified:

• Sarita Devi (38), mother

• Arjun Singh (10), younger son

• Karan Singh (12), elder son — severely injured, undergoing treatment

Eyewitness Accounts: Cries for Help and Community Response

Residents nearby reported hearing screams and loud cries for help early in the morning. Within minutes, a crowd gathered outside the house, only to witness thick smoke and flames coming from one of the rooms.

People attempted to extinguish the fire using sand, mud, and water, but the blaze had already caused critical injuries. Villagers eventually managed to break into the burning house and rescued the children and their mother, who were already severely burnt.

Medical Response: Two Declared Dead, One Hospitalized

The victims were immediately rushed to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) with the help of locals. Unfortunately, doctors declared Sarita Devi and her son Arjun dead on arrival.

The surviving child, Karan Singh, was referred to Siwan Sadar Hospital for advanced medical treatment. As of the latest reports, he remains in critical condition and is undergoing intensive care.

Police and Fire Brigade Action

Upon receiving the alert, local police led by SHO Pappan Kumar and Sub-Inspector Niranjan Kumar reached the spot and started an official investigation.

Key Updates from Authorities:

• The fire appears to have originated from a gas leak that was left unnoticed during cooking preparation.

• Forensic examination and cause validation are ongoing.

• The Fire Brigade was dispatched, but by the time they arrived, locals had already managed to contain the fire to some extent.

The Siwan district administration is now reviewing the case for any lapses in safety protocols.

Community in Shock: Mourning and Mass Gathering

Following the incident, a wave of grief and panic spread across the village. Hundreds of villagers gathered outside the deceased’s house, many expressing anger over the slow response and lack of awareness regarding LPG safety.

Family members arrived at the PHC in a state of shock. Relatives were seen weeping uncontrollably, unable to comprehend the sudden loss of their loved ones.

Gas Safety Concerns: A Recurring Threat in Rural India

This tragic fire is not an isolated incident. Poor handling of gas cylinders, lack of regular maintenance, and limited safety awareness continue to cause fatal accidents in Indian households.

Common Gas Safety Violations:

• Use of outdated regulators and hoses

• Improper ventilation in kitchen areas

• Delay in identifying or responding to leaks

• Lack of fire extinguishers in homes

Despite repeated awareness drives, LPG safety protocols remain largely ignored, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.

Local Authorities Under Scrutiny

Residents have now called upon the local government to:

• Audit gas safety compliance in the area

• Distribute free LPG safety kits and training sessions

• Establish emergency fire response units within closer proximity to villages

One local leader commented:

“This is not just a family tragedy, it is a policy failure. People are dying because they don’t know what to do when a gas leak happens.”

National Context: Rising LPG-Related Accidents in India

According to data from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas:

• Over 1,200 LPG-related fire incidents were reported in India in 2024.

• Bihar alone accounted for 13% of these cases, making it one of the highest in terms of gas-related domestic accidents.

The growing use of LPG in rural areas, while beneficial, comes with the need for strong safety education and enforcement mechanisms.

Grief and Resilience: The Family Left Behind

Sarita Devi was a homemaker, and her husband reportedly works as a daily-wage laborer in another city. The family had recently installed the LPG connection under the Ujjwala Yojana scheme.

The lone survivor, Karan Singh, remains unconscious and is being monitored round the clock. His future remains uncertain, with both psychological trauma and physical injuries needing long-term care.

Villagers have started a fundraising campaign to assist the grieving family with funeral costs and medical expenses.

Public Appeals and Administrative Action

The Siwan District Magistrate is expected to visit the family and may announce compensation under the state disaster relief fund. Meanwhile, the Department of Food and Consumer Protection has initiated a safety review of all recent gas connection installations in the district.

Officials are also discussing the need to:

• Install smoke alarms and leak detectors in government-subsidized LPG households

• Train Anganwadi workers and school teachers in basic fire emergency handling

• Set up village-level safety committees

The Siwan fire incident serves as a harsh reminder of how simple safety oversights can lead to irreversible loss. While the grieving family tries to make sense of their loss, the administration must now act decisively to ensure that such incidents do not recur.