A late-night gas cylinder explosion in Kulada village under Nalco Police Station, Angul district, has left three members of a family in critical condition.
The incident occurred around 2 am on Sunday at the home of Bibhuti Bhushan Pradhan.
The powerful blast triggered a fire that engulfed the house, waking nearby residents. Rushing to the scene, neighbours found Bibhuti, his wife Ratnamanjari, and their son Vignesh trapped inside. They attempted to put out the flames and quickly alerted the Nalco police.
Fire brigade personnel arrived promptly, brought the blaze under control, and rescued the unconscious family members from the burning house. The victims were first taken to Angul District Headquarters Hospital, but due to the severity of their injuries, they were later shifted to Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment. All three remain in critical condition.
Police and fire officials have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion and the circumstances that led to the gas cylinder blast inside the residence.