Continuous rainfall in Raigad district, Maharashtra, over the past few days has caused rivers to swell, with floodwaters entering the HPCL LPG bottling plant at Chavne MIDC in Panvel taluka. The strong current swept away both filled and empty LPG cylinders, with around 3,000 reportedly being carried into the Patalganga river. Videos showing the cylinders floating downstream have since surfaced on social media.

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Raigad District Collector Kishan Jawale urged people not to retrieve or handle any LPG cylinders found in the river or along its banks. In a statement, he said the amount of gas remaining in the cylinders and their internal condition were unknown, making them potentially hazardous. He also advised people against taking the cylinders home, warning that doing so could endanger them and their families.

Officials from the district administration and HPCL have launched a search operation to trace the missing cylinders. The administration said the cylinders could drift towards Khopoli, Pen and nearby villages along the Patalganga river, and efforts are under way to locate and recover them at the earliest.

The administration has advised people not to keep any LPG cylinders found in the river or along its banks. Instead, they have been asked to inform HPCL, the nearest authorised gas agency, or the district control room if they spot one.