A tragic gas explosion shook the village of Zherewadi in the Nandeshwar area of Mangalwedha taluka, Solapur district, on the afternoon of June 25. The incident occurred while members of the Gangathade family were preparing shawarma, leading to a devastating blast that claimed the lives of two young children and left four others seriously injured.
According to local reports, the explosion took place as the family was in the process of removing a gas regulator from the cylinder. A suspected gas leak from the pipe resulted in a powerful blast that engulfed the area in flames.
The deceased children have been identified as Shreya (1 year old) and Swara (2 years old). Both girls sustained severe burn injuries and succumbed to them shortly after the explosion.
The injured victims—Dadasaheb Gangathade, Monali Gangathade, Anuja Gangathade, and Sunita Gangathade—were rushed to the Solapur Government Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment for serious burn injuries.
The Gangathade family operates a small hotel business in the nearby town of Shirsi, and the fatal explosion occurred while they were preparing shawarma for commercial purposes.
Upon being alerted, Inspector Dattatray Borigidde of Mangalwedha Police Station, along with Police Constable Koshti and other personnel, promptly arrived at the scene. They conducted preliminary inquiries and coordinated the emergency medical response to transport the injured to the hospital.
The tragic deaths of the two children have plunged the local community into mourning, and there is a palpable sense of grief across the village. Residents have expressed deep sorrow and solidarity with the affected family.
The local administration and police have launched an investigation to determine the precise cause of the explosion and to assess whether any safety lapses contributed to the incident.