The devastating explosion at a residential apartment in Agartala's Ramnagar area claimed its first life on Friday, with critically injured youth Shubhrajit Choudhury succumbing to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital.
Shubhrajit, an employee of the Abacus Agartala Head Office Mathematics Study Circle at Ramnagar Road No. 4, had sustained severe injuries in Thursday's blast. His untimely demise has triggered an outpouring of grief, with friends, colleagues and well-wishers expressing condolences across social media.
Expressing profound sorrow over the tragic loss, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha announced a high-level inquiry into the incident and assured all possible assistance to the bereaved family as well as those affected by the explosion.
The powerful blast, which occurred on Thursday, severely damaged the flat where it originated and caused extensive destruction to adjoining apartments. Several people were injured, while panic gripped residents of the densely populated Ramnagar locality.
Accompanied by Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) Mayor Dipak Majumder, the Chief Minister visited the blast site on Friday to assess the damage, interact with affected families and eyewitnesses, and review the ongoing relief measures. He assured displaced residents that the state government would stand by them and extend every possible support.
Speaking to reporters, Dr. Saha noted that Ramnagar is one of the city's most densely populated residential areas and stressed the need to determine the exact cause of the explosion. He announced the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the incident.
Following the Chief Minister's directive, the Urban Development Department constituted a five-member high-level inquiry committee, headed by the department's Secretary. The committee also includes the Director of Fire and Emergency Services, the Municipal Commissioner of AMC, the Superintendent of Police (West Tripura), and the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (Buildings).
The committee has been directed to submit its report to the state government within seven days.
The Chief Minister also wished the injured a speedy recovery and said the inquiry would examine every possible cause behind the explosion. He stated that investigators would specifically look into whether any negligence on the part of Tripura Natural Gas Company Limited (TNGCL), including a possible leak in the piped natural gas (PNG) network, contributed to the tragedy. However, he emphasized that no conclusions would be drawn until the investigation is completed.
Senior TNGCL officials, however, denied that a natural gas leak could have triggered such a massive explosion. They maintained that the characteristics of natural gas make it unlikely to cause such a blast, as leaked gas generally disperses quickly into the atmosphere by mixing with oxygen and other gases.
Sources said TNGCL's preliminary internal investigation has so far found no substantial evidence suggesting leakage from the PNG network.
Meanwhile, the incident has reignited public concern over apartment safety, with residents demanding an update on the investigation into a similar explosion that occurred nearly a year ago at a residential building near Fire Brigade Chowmuhani. They questioned whether adequate safety measures had been implemented following that incident.
Residents have also called for a comprehensive forensic investigation to establish the exact cause of the blast, identify any lapses in safety protocols, and recommend measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future. They further urged the authorities to enforce stricter safety standards and ensure greater accountability to safeguard families living in apartment complexes across Tripura.