Approximately 3,000 gas cylinders were swept from the HPCL Patalganga LPG Bottling Plant into the Patalganga River and Kharpada Creek on July 9, 2026, after torrential rains caused the plant’s protection wall to collapse. Raigad Collector Kishan Javle has warned that these cylinders may contain gas and could be extremely dangerous if opened or kept in homes.
Why did the gas cylinders end up in the river?
Officials stated that heavy rainfall led to the collapse of the protection wall at the HPCL Patalganga LPG Bottling Plant. This failure allowed floodwaters to enter the premises directly, washing around 3,000 cylinders into the Patalganga River and Kharpada Creek. The incident occurred amid a week of continuous rain that has caused flooding and overflowing rivers across several parts of Maharashtra, with Raigad cited as one of the worst affected districts.
Where can citizens return the floating cylinders?
Raigad Collector Kishan Javle appealed to citizens who find cylinders in the river or nearby areas to hand them over immediately. According to the collector, deposits can be made at these specific locations:
- The HPCL company directly
- Any nearby HPCL dealer
- Tehsildar Office, Khalapur
- Tehsildar Office
- Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Office
What are the safety risks of collecting these cylinders?
The administration warns that there is no guarantee regarding whether the washed-away cylinders contain gas or if they remain in a safe condition. “Picking them up, opening them, or taking them home out of curiosity or for use could be extremely dangerous,” Collector Javle said. For safety reasons, the administration requested that people do not keep these cylinders in their homes.
What may happen next?
Recovery efforts may continue as authorities attempt to retrieve the remaining cylinders from the Patalganga River and Kharpada Creek. Because the administration has identified the cylinders as potential safety hazards, the process of collection likely depends on public cooperation and the use of the designated drop-off points. Further assessments of the plant’s collapsed protection wall may be necessary to prevent additional equipment from entering the waterway.
