Fatehpur house collapse: Five dead after gas cylinder explosion

A powerful gas cylinder explosion caused a two-storey house to collapse in Malwan town, Fatehpur district, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday evening. The blast occurred at the residence of fruit trader Suresh Gupta while meals were being prepared.

The death toll has risen to five, including four siblings—Kunal (18), Arpit (15), Ved (8), and Yash (4)—and one other victim who succumbed to injuries after being placed on a ventilator. One survivor, Alok Gupta (25), remains in critical condition with burns covering over 90 per cent of his body.

Rescue operations involved local police, fire departments, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). Due to narrow lanes, fire tenders could not reach the site, requiring the use of a JCB machine to clear the debris. Seven people were rescued from the rubble.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences and announced financial aid of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Forensic teams are investigating the exact cause of the explosion, though preliminary findings suggest a gas cylinder triggered the blast.