HOSHIARPUR, Aug 25 — The death toll from an LPG tanker fire near Mandiala on the Hoshiarpur-Jalandhar road has risen to seven, prompting the district administration to order a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
Civil surgeon Pawan Kumar confirmed the fatalities, noting that the victims had been admitted to a private hospital on Chandigarh Road and were on ventilators. Five other patients remain in critical condition, while a seven-year-old boy has been referred to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh.
Those who died on Sunday have been identified as Jaswinder Kaur, 65; Vijay, 19; Manjit Singh, 70; and Aradhana Verma, 28. Aradhana’s husband, Dharminder Verma, had succumbed to injuries at Government Medical College in Amritsar within hours of the blaze. Two more, including the tanker driver, also died from burn injuries.
The accident occurred around 10 p.m. on Friday when the LPG tanker collided with a pickup truck near Mandiala, igniting a massive fire.
In response to public outrage and allegations of administrative lapses, Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain has ordered a magisterial inquiry led by the Additional Deputy Commissioner. The report is expected within 15 days. “We are committed to ensuring accountability and examining all aspects of the incident,” the DC said.
Citing reports of gas pilferage, the administration has also constituted a district-level vigilance committee to enforce safety standards. The committee, headed by the district food and supplies controller with the Executive Engineer of the Punjab Pollution Control Board as co-chairperson, will include representatives from the police, deputy director factories, and concerned BDPOs. It is tasked with inspections and compliance monitoring, with a first report due in five days.
In addition, vehicle regulation committees have been set up to prevent illegal parking of heavy vehicles carrying hazardous substances. Chaired by sub-divisional magistrates with the regional transport authority as co-chairperson, the committees will work alongside police, public works, and municipal officials to identify sensitive spots and designate safe parking zones under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
For relief measures, the DC has announced the formation of a special relief committee under the Hoshiarpur SDM. The body will oversee financial aid, material support, and medical assistance to victims, with compliance reports expected within five days. Cases related to compensation for the deceased and critically injured are being processed on a priority basis.
