Youth suffers 35% burns after seat of toilet ‘explodes’ at Greater Noida house

NOIDA: A 20-year-old youth suffered serious burn injuries after his western toilet ‘exploded' in a Greater Noida house, a freak accident that investigators are still trying to make sense of but one that sparked concern about the safety of decades old plumbing systems in residential areas. The ‘explosion' occurred around 3pm on Saturday at house number C-364 in Sector 36.According to Sunil Pradhan, the house owner, his son Ashu Nagar had gone to use the bathroom when he pressed the flush button. The toilet seat suddenly exploded with a loud bang, triggering a fire. "The blast left Ashu with severe burn injuries to his face and body. He was rushed to Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Greater Noida, where doctors confirmed he had suffered 35% burns," Pradhan said. He clarified that Ashu wasn't using a mobile phone or any other electronic gadget at the time of the incident. An inspection of the house also revealed that air conditioning and all other electronic equipment were functioning properly, minimising the possibility of a short circuit. The family suspects that methane gas may have accumulated inside the toilet bowl because of a choked drain and ignited due to a possible spark, leading to the sudden explosion.Harinder Bhati, a local resident, pointed out that Greater Noida's sewage system was outdated and could be responsible for the buildup of gas. "Pipes here are not just old, but they haven't been cleaned in years. Choked pipes can lead to accumulation of gas, which can explode under pressure," he added. Experts agreed. "Yes, methane gas can build up in sewer lines and poorly ventilated bathroom plumbing, especially if drains are choked or the sewage system is faulty," a chemistry professor said.AP Verma, a senior manager at Greater Noida Authority, said an inspection had been carried out of the sewage system in the area, but no abnormalities had been found. "The system is clean and functioning normally. It appears that the explosion might have resulted from some internal problem within the house," he said. He, however, did not clarify what the "internal problems" could be.