Gas explosion in a mosque in Andijan  

A gas explosion occurred in a mosque in the Izboskan district of the Andijan region, resulting in casualties. On March 31, at 12:19 p.m., an air-gas mixture explosion took place at the “Ahmadali Khoji” mosque, located in the “Mirzo Ulugbek” municipal district of Izboskan.  

According to the Fire Department, a gas explosion occurred in the mosque. As a result, the walls and roof structures of the ablution facility were damaged, but no fire broke out.  

The Andijan administration reported that the ablution facility collapsed due to the explosion. All relevant officials, led by regional governor Shukhratbek Abdurakhmanov, arrived at the scene.  

As of March 31, 10 people were injured, and three lost their lives in the incident. No further updates have been provided.  

Deputy Prime Minister Ochilboy Ramatov and Minister of Emergency Situations, Major General Botir Kudratkhodzhaev, who were in the valley at the time of the incident, traveled to Izboskan.  

According to Prime Minister’s press secretary Bekzod Khidoyatov, a decree was issued by the Cabinet of Ministers to provide comprehensive assistance to the families of the deceased, emergency medical aid to the injured, and to investigate the causes of the accident. The decree also aims to implement preventive measures against similar incidents. A government commission, led by Deputy Prime Minister Ochilboy Ramatov, has been formed.  

The Andijan regional prosecutor’s office has launched a criminal investigation into the explosion.  

Providing further details, the prosecutor’s office stated:  

“In the basement of the ablution building of the ‘Ahmadali Haji’ mosque in Izboskan district, natural gas leaked from gas pipes connected to heating devices and accumulated inside the room. When the electricity was turned on, a spark occurred, and the building collapsed.”  

The Andijan regional prosecutor’s office has opened a criminal case under Articles 205 (Abuse of Power or Official Authority) and 259 (Violation of Fire Safety Rules) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. A preliminary investigation is underway.  

Authorities have assured that all circumstances of the incident will be thoroughly examined, and a legal decision will be made accordingly.  

According to the Emergency Situations Department and the regional prosecutor’s office, 10 people were injured, and three died. However, social media users claim the actual number of victims is much higher.  

Following the explosion, many recalled the gas station explosion in the Fergana region on December 17 last year.  

It was not officially announced that four citizens died in the explosion. However, netizens, including residents of Fergana, said that the authorities were hiding the number of dead.

The explosion in Fergana was much more terrible than the one in Andijan, but despite this, there was no information at that time about the governor or other officials visiting the scene or the formation of a government commission.

It is still unknown whether compensation was paid to the relatives of the deceased, and many are writing why the government did not form a government commission in the case of Fergana, that the authorities were indifferent to the situation and did not even express condolences to the relatives of the deceased.