A tea stall was gutted following a gas cylinder explosion at Totagaon under Khalikote police limits in Odisha’s Ganjam in the early hours of Thursday. The blast occurred between 3 am and 4 am when the stall was closed, and no one was present at the site. 

As per reports, a gas cylinder kept inside the stall suddenly exploded, triggering a fire that destroyed the entire structure. All items inside the shop were burnt to ashes, and a two-wheeler parked nearby was also gutted. 

Fire service personnel faced considerable difficulty in controlling the blaze but eventually managed to extinguish it.

Vendor Suspects Foul Play

According to reports, the tea stall vendor had last been at the shop on Wednesday night when he closed it at around 8.30 pm. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. 

However, the vendor filed a police complaint alleging foul play, stating that he had been asked to repay personal loans and suspected that miscreants might have set the stall on fire. 

Police launched an investigation into the matter, and the Tehsildar was expected to visit the site at the time of reporting.

Severe Damage Reported

As per reports, the extent of the damage was significant, with the cabin blowing up completely. Properties including a fridge, phones and other belongings were gutted. The shopkeeper also claimed that Rs 19,000 in cash kept inside the cabin was destroyed. 

Neighbours rushed out of their homes, they attempted to douse the flames using water drawn from a nearby well before the fire services arrived approximately an hour after the incident was reported.

Vendor Seeks Government Support

The tea stall vendor, who is the sole earning member of his family, expressed distress over losing his only source of income. He lives with his wife, while his sons work outside Odisha as daily wage labourers. 

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Meanwhile, the vendor has appealed for government assistance following the incident.