Three persons were killed and three others injured after a CNG cylinder installed in a truck exploded at a filling station near Tikri Kalan metro station in west Delhi on Wednesday (August 19, 2026), the police said.

The deceased were identified as Manish, 25, Sunny, 32, and Brahmjeet, 34, all employees of the CNG filling station. Of the three injured, Surjeet, 32, and Sanjay, 37, were shifted to a Mundka hospital, where they were undergoing treatment; Vipin sustained minor injuries.

According to the police, six persons were standing near the truck when the explosion occurred around 3.20 p.m. Seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot following a distress call, though no firefighting was required.

Speaking to The Hindu, DCP (Outer) Vikram Singh said that the truck had multiple CNG cylinders fitted underneath it and the blast occurred while gas was being filled into one of them. “Manish, a station employee who was filling the gas, bore the brunt of the blast and died on the spot. Two other men who were in the vicinity of the truck also sustained fatal injuries,” he said.

The explosion damaged another truck, a van, a scooter and equipment at the filling station. Following the blast, the filling station was cordoned off and the truck involved was seized for technical examination to ascertain the circumstances leading to the explosion.

Police said the exact cause of the blast was being investigated. Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has been asked to examine the technical aspects of the incident. A case of negligence has been registered and further investigation is under way.

Meanwhile, the family of Manish alleged that he remained at the filling station for some time before an ambulance arrived and he could be taken to Safdarjung Hospital. Police, however, denied any delay and stated that the injured were prioritised.

CNG-related incidents

The blast is the latest in a series of CNG-related incidents reported in Delhi in the recent past.

On April 2, 2026, four people were injured after a CNG cylinder in a truck exploded during refuelling at a station in Mitraon village, Dwarka.

In March 2025, two people were injured when a truck’s CNG tank burst while it was being refilled in Ghevra.

Earlier, in October 2024, a similar incident during refuelling at a petrol pump in Najafgarh left one person injured.

Separately, a cylinder explosion at an unauthorised CNG storage and repair facility in Sunder Nagri in May 2025 left four people injured, with two children later succumbing to their injuries.

Published - August 20, 2026 12:42 am IST