A devastating fire broke out in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district on Friday night following a suspected road accident involving an LPG tanker. The incident, which occurred around 10 PM in the industrial area of Mandiala village, resulted in the deaths of two people and left several others injured. According to officials, the blaze spread rapidly, engulfing nearly 15 shops and four to five nearby residential houses.

Fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot, and authorities managed to bring the fire under control after hours of effort. Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain and Senior Superintendent of Police Sandeep Kumar Malik were present at the scene to oversee the rescue and relief operations. Ambulances transported the injured to hospitals for urgent treatment.

Speaking to the media, Deputy Commissioner Jain said, “The fire broke out, probably due to a road accident. A gas leak appears to have occurred after an LPG tanker collided with another vehicle. Burn victims have been admitted to hospitals, and one fatality has been confirmed initially.” She added that as the area is industrial, some of the injured may include migrant workers.

Punjab Minister Ravjot Singh also visited the accident site to assess the situation. He called it a tragic incident and stated, “It is not yet clear how many people are missing. People reported that the tanker hit a car, leading to a gas leak and a massive blast.”

Civil Surgeon Pawan Kumar confirmed that two individuals were declared dead upon arrival at the Hoshiarpur Civil Hospital, while 18 to 20 others sustained injuries. “Five to six patients with severe burn injuries have been referred to another medical institute for advanced treatment,” he said.