Jorhat blast: Police rule out cylinder explosion, probe suspected explosive material

Police have ruled out a cooking gas cylinder blast in the explosion that killed two people, including a child, in Assam’s Jorhat district and are now investigating the possibility that unidentified explosive material triggered the incident.

Eyewitnesses had earlier reported a loud explosion around 4–4:30 pm on March 28 and suspected a cooking gas cylinder burst. However, no cylinder debris was recovered from the site, and locals later claimed the blast was caused by some form of explosive substance.

The deceased have been identified as Noor Mohammad and a minor child. Another child and a woman sustained injuries and were rushed to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital for treatment. One of the injured children later succumbed to injuries, while the other remains in critical condition.

Senior police officials said preliminary findings have ruled out a cylinder explosion. Subrajyoti Bora, SSP of Jorhat, said a crater-like mark at the blast site and witness accounts suggest that the explosion may have occurred while the victim, a scrap worker, was dismantling unidentified materials to extract metal.

According to police, Noor Mohammad used to collect scrap materials and may have brought some items home, where he was allegedly breaking them apart when the blast occurred.

Investigators are now examining all possible angles to determine the exact nature of the explosive material and what triggered the blast.

(Inputs from ANI)