LPG cylinder blast case: Dreams of two families shattered

​Hyderabad: The LPG cylinder leakage blast that occurred at a house in Bhavani Nagar in Kapra under Kushaiguda police station limits changed the lives of two families forever in 15 minutes on Friday. K Ravi Kumar (35) who died on the spot after sustaining serious head injuries, as the blast debris fell on him, was on his way to his saloon shop at Maruthinagar colony in AS Rao Nagar. 

According to his paternal uncle Jayaprakash, Ravi lost his father four years ago and performed marriage one year ago. When his brothers sold his father’s house in Sri Ram Nagar colony, he shifted to Yellareddyguda with his mother and wife. As his mother was also dependent on him, he used to work hard to fulfil the needs of his family. Jayaprakash said that Ravi told him that he and his wife were planning for children a couple of months ago when he met him. With tears in his eyes, Jayaprakash told that Ravi always aimed for a better life. 

A mother and a wife lost their family bread earner and came onto the roads within hours. On the other hand, the other victim who died in the blast Mohan Lal Choudhary (45), was a native of Rajasthan and belonged to Marwadi community. He came to Hyderabad along with his wife and resided in Kapra area along with his wife Leela Devi (35) and his two children Govind (12, studying class 8) and Nikhitha (10, class 6 student). He was running a Jewellery and pan broker shop at Kapra. Six years ago, he constructed a G+1 house with a small shutter at Kapra old Tahasildhar Office lane in Bhavani Nagar.

Planning for his children’s future, he decided to shift his jewellery shop to his house shutter in order to take care of his children’s education. According to his relatives from Rajasthan, who reside beside his house, he always thought about his children’s future under which he started the renovation works of the shutter. 

He was planning to inaugurate the shops very soon. Suddenly, a mishap changed his families fate and took him away from them. His wife Leela is battling for life in the hospital with 50 per cent burns and their two children are currently in a shocked state. The house was dismantled by the GHMC staff in the interest of public as it was badly damaged and was risky.

Medchal Distrct Collector M V Reddy visited the incident spot and expressed shock over the incident. He visited victim Ravi Kumar’s family and extended all support from the government. He announced Rs one lakh ex-gratia under Apathbandhu scheme to the deceased family and said under Central government disaster fund, they would see to that the additional compensation will reach Ravi’s family. He said all the medical expenses of the victims will be paid from the government exchequer and food will be supplied to their families for one week from government side.

On the other side, Mayor Bonthu Rammohan along with GHMC Officials visited the incident spot and announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia from Mayor’s relief fund to Ravi’s family. He assured all needy help to the bereaved family members.