Jalgaon Ambulance Explosion: Pregnant Woman Escapes Oxygen Cylinder Blast in Jalgaon

Jalgaon, Maharashtra —

Jalgaon Ambulance Explosion: In a terrifying incident on the National Highway in the Dada Wadi area of Jalgaon, Maharashtra, a pregnant woman narrowly escaped a fatal ambulance explosion. The incident occurred as an oxygen cylinder inside the ambulance exploded, just moments after the ambulance caught fire. This chilling incident has once again highlighted the importance of safety protocols in emergency medical transportation.

Watch: A fire broke out in an ambulance carrying a pregnant woman in Jalgaon, Maharashtra. The fire caused an oxygen cylinder inside the ambulance to explode. The blast shattered windows of nearby houses in the Dadvadi area pic.twitter.com/uMBfhC8Tj1

— IANS (@ians_india) November 14, 2024

The ambulance was on its way from Erandol Government Hospital to Jalgaon District Hospital, carrying the woman and her family when the driver noticed smoke coming from the engine. Reacting swiftly, the driver instructed all passengers to exit the vehicle immediately, leading them to safety. Just minutes after they vacated the ambulance, the engine caught fire, which then ignited the oxygen cylinder inside, causing a powerful blast.

Recent Fires Across India Raise Alarms

The Jalgaon ambulance explosion comes amidst a spate of fire incidents across India, raising concerns over fire safety in both public and industrial spaces.

1. Delhi Factory Fire: On November 13, a fire broke out at a factory in Vikas Nagar, Uttam Nagar, Delhi. The Delhi Fire Service promptly dispatched seven fire tenders to the site, successfully extinguishing the blaze.
2. Footwear Godown Fire in South Delhi: In another incident in south Delhi’s Fatehpur Beri area, a massive fire erupted in a shoe godown. The Delhi Fire Service received a call at 4:10 a.m., with 14 fire tenders battling the fire for over five hours due to the presence of chemicals on the premises. Additional fire tenders were later deployed for cooling operations.
3. Kolkata Market Fire: South Kolkata’s Anwar Shah Road market also witnessed a fire, which took an hour and a half to bring under control. Sixteen fire tenders were used to contain the blaze.
4. Mathura Indian Oil Corporation Refinery Incident: In a recent blaze at the Mathura refinery, a flash fire occurred due to a valve malfunction, resulting in the mixing of hydrocarbons and steam. The incident caused burn injuries to eight people, though authorities confirmed it was not an explosion as initially reported.

Safety Concerns and Takeaways

The frequency of these fire incidents, from hospital transport services to industrial sites, raises significant concerns over fire safety protocols and equipment standards. Fire safety audits, along with strict adherence to safety regulations, can potentially avert tragedies. Ensuring regular inspections of emergency vehicles and industrial safety systems could help prevent similar incidents in the future.