A suspected leak in a piped natural gas pipeline triggered an explosion at a house in Bokaro’s Bari Cooperative around 2.30am on Sunday, damaging several rooms and household belongings, while all nine family members inside escaped unharmed, police said.
The blast occurred at plot number 95 in the cooperative area and affected two rooms, the kitchen, bathroom, doors, windows and the boundary wall. The force of the explosion also caused extensive damage to the structure and destroyed belongings kept inside the house.
DSP (City) Rajeev Ranjan said authorities had called a Forensic Science Laboratory team to examine the site. “The exact cause of the explosion will be established after detailed investigation,” he said.
Police suspect that a leak in a PNG gas pipeline may have led to the blast. The preliminary suspicion has not yet been confirmed, and the forensic examination is expected to establish whether the pipeline, an internal connection or another source caused the accumulation of gas.
The incident highlights the immediate safety risks associated with gas infrastructure inside dense residential areas, where a leak can affect occupants before it is detected. In this case, the explosion occurred while the family was inside the house, but no injuries were reported.
House owner Anil Jha said the damage could be worth between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 30 lakh. Jha, who runs a soap manufacturing unit in Balidih, said the estimate was preliminary and that the actual losses would be determined after a detailed inspection. The assessment includes structural damage and household items destroyed in the blast.
The incident also leaves several operational questions for the investigation, including the location of the suspected leak, the condition of the gas pipeline and connections, and whether any warning signs were noticed before the explosion. No conclusion on these issues has been announced by the police.
The FSL team’s examination and the subsequent police investigation will determine the exact cause of the explosion and help establish the extent of damage to the property. A detailed inspection of the house is also expected to finalise the loss assessment.
