Raigad, July 9: Torrential monsoon rains wreaked havoc in Maharashtra's Raigad district after floodwaters inundated the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) LPG bottling plant at Patalganga, sweeping away nearly 3,000 LPG cylinders into the swollen river. The incident has raised serious safety concerns, prompting authorities to issue urgent warnings to the public against handling or collecting the drifting cylinders.

According to officials, continuous heavy rainfall caused the Patalganga River to overflow, leading to severe flooding in and around the industrial area. The force of the floodwaters damaged a portion of the plant's protective boundary wall, allowing water to rush into the premises. As a result, thousands of both filled and empty LPG cylinders were carried away by the strong current.

Videos circulating on social media showed hundreds of cylinders floating downstream, creating an unusual and alarming sight. The visuals quickly attracted public attention, with many people gathering along bridges and riverbanks to witness the incident. Reports also suggested that some individuals attempted to recover the cylinders from the water, prompting immediate intervention by local authorities.

The Raigad district administration has appealed to residents to stay away from the cylinders and avoid touching or transporting them. Officials warned that several of the cylinders may still contain liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), making them potentially hazardous if damaged or mishandled. Any attempt to open, move or use the cylinders without proper safety procedures could result in accidents, including fire or explosions.

District Collector Kishan Javle urged citizens to cooperate with the administration by informing authorities whenever a cylinder is spotted. He said that any recovered cylinder should be handed over only to authorised HPCL officials, local gas distributors or designated government offices. The administration has also instructed emergency response teams to monitor the river and coordinate recovery operations.

HPCL has launched a large-scale exercise to trace and retrieve the missing cylinders while simultaneously assessing the extent of damage to the bottling facility. Officials are working closely with disaster management agencies, the local police and the district administration to ensure that the cylinders are safely recovered before they pose any risk to nearby communities.

The incident comes amid widespread monsoon-related disruption across Maharashtra. Several districts have experienced intense rainfall, resulting in flooded roads, overflowing rivers, landslides and damage to infrastructure. Raigad has been among the worst-affected regions, with rescue teams remaining on alert as weather forecasts indicate the possibility of more heavy showers.

Industrial safety experts say the incident highlights the need for stronger flood protection measures at critical infrastructure located in flood-prone areas. They believe that improved disaster preparedness, reinforced protective barriers and regular risk assessments can help minimise damage during extreme weather events.

Authorities have once again appealed to the public not to approach or collect any LPG cylinders found in rivers, fields or nearby villages. Residents have been advised to immediately inform the local administration or emergency services if they locate any cylinder. Recovery efforts are continuing, and officials remain focused on ensuring public safety while restoring normal operations at the HPCL plant.

Powered by Froala Editor