Repeated explosions in Ayodhya village raise questions over administrative claims

A series of explosions in Paglabhari village under the Purakalandar police station area of Ayodhya has left six people dead and raised serious concerns about the local administration’s handling and explanation of the incident.

The first blast occurred on Thursday evening in the house of resident Ramkumar, killing five people. However, a second explosion on Friday early morning during debris removal has shattered the administration’s initial theory that a gas cylinder blast caused the tragedy.

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During the clearance of debris with the help of a JCB machine, a powerful explosion injured a revenue officer (lekhpal), Akash Singh, who was on duty. Later, the body of Ramkumar’s wife, Vandana, was recovered from the rubble, raising the death toll to six.

Authorities had previously attributed Thursday evening’s explosion, which occurred around 7 PM, to a gas cylinder blast. However, the second blast at the same location today has cast doubt on this explanation, prompting widespread suspicion and anger among residents.

This is not the first time such a tragedy has struck Ramkumar’s household. In April 2024, a similar explosion at his flour mill residence claimed the lives of his mother Shivpata, wife Bindu, and a child, Priyanka.

Following that tragedy, Ramkumar married his sister-in-law, Vandana, and built a new house outside the village, where he had been living since.

On Thursday, another devastating explosion struck the new residence, severely injuring five people, including three children, Luv, Yash, and Ishi, and a labourer, identified as Ram Sajeewan. The blast reduced the structure to rubble.

A laborer who was trapped under the debris, along with Ramkumar’s wife, also lost his life in the aftermath.

With six confirmed fatalities and recurring blasts at the same site within a span of just over a year, suspicions of foul play or illegal activities are now being raised by locals, who are demanding a deeper and more transparent investigation.

Authorities have yet to provide a clear explanation beyond the gas cylinder claim. As the investigation continues, pressure is mounting for a thorough forensic examination and a high-level probe to uncover the real cause behind these repeated tragedies in Paglabhari village.