BALACHAUR (Nawanshahr), June 3: A compressor blast in an air conditioner at a local gurdwara in Balachaur subdivision claimed the life of a 62-year-old woman and left ten others injured on Tuesday afternoon, triggering panic among devotees gathered for prayers.
The deceased has been identified as Kashmir Kaur, 62. Among the injured, 60-year-old Baljeet Kaur sustained critical injuries and was referred to PGI, Chandigarh. The remaining victims are said to be stable and out of danger.
The explosion occurred around 1 pm, just as the gurdwara premises were filled with devotees from across the region, including Ropar, Ludhiana, Garhshankar, and nearby towns.
“There was smoke everywhere after the blast. We couldn’t even understand what had happened,” recalled one of the injured women, describing the sudden chaos.
The powerful explosion led to immediate commotion as panicked worshippers rushed to safety.
Local police teams reached the spot shortly after the incident and have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the blast.
Authorities are yet to confirm whether faulty equipment or electrical malfunction led to the fatal explosion.
