Raigad collector warns public against picking up cylinders swept away by floods

Raigad District Collector Kishan Jawale has appealed to residents to stay away from LPG cylinders found floating in the Patalganga River or washed ashore, after floodwaters swept around 3,000 cylinders out of a Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) bottling plant in Patalganga, near Panvel.

The district administration said heavy rain caused flooding at the plant, and the force of the water carried away the cylinders, some filled with gas and others empty. Videos showed several people entering the swollen river to try to retrieve cylinders as they drifted past, prompting the official warning.

In a statement, the administration said anyone who comes across a cylinder should not keep it or attempt to use it, and should instead hand it over to HPCL, the nearest authorised HPCL distributor, or deposit it at the Tehsildar’s offices in Khalapur or Pen, or the Sub-Divisional Officer’s office in Pen.

The Raigad District Information Office also posted an alert on X urging anyone who finds a cylinder to immediately inform authorities. Officials said they continue to work on tracing and recovering the missing cylinders.