One killed, four injured in oxygen cylinder blast in Okhla

A 35-year-old worker was killed, and four others were injured after a commercial oxygen cylinder exploded. At the time, it was being unloaded at a godown in Okhla Phase-I on Wednesday (September 9, 2026) morning.The deceased was identified as Mohit Singh, a resident of Jaipur, who worked as a helper with SM Traders, a firm dealing in the local distribution of industrial oxygen cylinders. He had been working with the firm for around three years.According to the police, the incident occurred at around 10:43 a.m. at D-23, Okhla Phase-I. A Tata 407, registered in the name of SM Traders, had arrived at the premises carrying commercial oxygen cylinders from Ghaziabad.A preliminary inquiry revealed that workers were unloading cylinders from the vehicle and moving them into the godown when one of the cylinders fell from the vehicle onto the road. The cylinder then exploded, the police said.The exact technical cause of the explosion has not yet been established and will be ascertained after examination of the scene, cylinder, vehicle and other relevant material by technical and forensic agencies, police said.Mohit died at the spot. Four other workers, identified as Umesh, Arvind, Manoj and Pankaj, sustained injuries and were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre for treatment.The premises were being used as a rented godown by SM Traders, which has been operating from that location for around one to two years. A preliminary inquiry found that the firm receives filled oxygen cylinders from Ghaziabad and supplies them to local traders and industrial establishments, particularly in the Okhla area. Police stated that no oxygen-filling plant was found at the premises.The firm is handling around 70 to 80 cylinders a day, although the figure is yet to be verified through its stock registers, purchase and sale records and invoices.Police are also verifying the source of the cylinders, the credentials of the supplier, the ownership of the cylinders and the statutory permissions or licences required for their storage, handling and transportation.The premises have been secured, and further investigation is underway. The exact circumstances and technical cause of the blast will be determined as part of the investigation. Published - September 09, 2026 12:42 pm IST