Maharashtra floods sweep away 3,000 LPG cylinders; people loot them after DM says 'don't touch or collect'

Heavy rainfall in Maharashtra's Raigad district flooded the HPCL Patalganga LPG Bottling Plant, sweeping nearly 3,000 LPG cylinders into the Patalganga River, prompting authorities to issue a public safety advisory.

According to officials, around 3,000 LPG cylinders, including both filled and empty cylinders, were carried away by strong floodwaters after the plant was inundated. The incident occurred amid intense rainfall that has triggered flooding in several parts of the district.

According to India Today, Raigad District Collector Kishan Jawale had urged residents not to touch, collect or attempt to use any cylinders that may have been washed ashore or seen floating in the river.


"There is no guarantee whether the cylinders carried away by the river contain gas or are in a safe condition. Picking them up out of curiosity or for personal use, opening them, or taking them home could be extremely dangerous. Citizens should not put themselves at risk," Jawale said.



The district administration has advised people to immediately inform the authorities if they spot any LPG cylinders instead of trying to retrieve them.

Videos and images circulating on social media showed hundreds of LPG cylinders floating downstream after the flooding. Some social media posts also claimed that people were attempting to collect cylinders washed away by the floodwaters. However, authorities have reiterated that handling the cylinders could pose a serious safety risk and have urged the public to stay away from them.

The administration is monitoring the situation and efforts are underway to locate and recover the cylinders safely.