A 40-year-old man was killed due to suffocation after a fire broke out following a LPG cylinder explosion in Bhaji Mandi area of Kamptee town early Sunday morning. The incident took place around 6.30 am at the residence of Atul alias Bunty Dashrath Pantawane (40), who lived with his wife and three children. According to police, the explosion occurred while his wife was preparing tea in the kitchen, leading to a sudden fire that spread rapidly across the house. As the flames intensified, the entire house was engulfed in fire within minutes.

 

While Atul’s wife and children managed to escape in time, Atul got trapped inside a bedroom and died due to suffocation. During attempts to control the fire, seven people sustained minor injuries. The injured include Atul’s elder brothers Vinay Dashrath Pantawane (46) and Nitin Dashrath Pantawane (52), along with a neighbour Sandhya Manoj Dhawale (30) and others. On receiving information, the Fire Department of Kamptee Municipal Council rushed a fire tender to the spot and brought the fire under control after a quick response. The blaze caused extensive damage to household items including gold jewellery, a television, a refrigerator, and clothes.

 

The total loss is estimated to be over Rs 5 lakh. Senior Police Inspector Prashant Jumde and API Manish Hiwarkar visited the spot with their team and carried out a panchnama. The body of the deceased was sent to Kamptee Sub-District Hospital for post-mortem. Based on a complaint filed by the deceased’s brother Nitin Dashrath Pantawane, a case has been registered at Old Kamptee Police Station. Meanwhile, local residents have demanded financial assistance from the Government for the victim’s family.