Gas leak sparks fire at IIT Bombay hostel, injures five including two children

A fire erupted at Hostel Number 6 on the IIT Bombay campus in Powai on Monday after a gas leak from a cylinder pipe ignited without warning. The blaze forced emergency responders to mobilize quickly to contain the situation and evacuate affected areas of the residential facility.

Five individuals were injured in the incident, including two minors. All those hurt were transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment and observation. The nature and severity of their injuries were not immediately specified.

The fire brigade arrived at the scene and extinguished the flames, preventing further spread of the fire within the hostel building. An investigation into the cause of the gas leak and the circumstances leading to the fire has been initiated by relevant authorities.

IIT Bombay officials have not yet released additional details regarding the maintenance history of the gas cylinder systems or whether similar safety concerns exist in other campus facilities. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about gas safety protocols in institutional residential settings across major metropolitan areas.