A violent domestic dispute in Queens turned into a full-scale disaster after a man allegedly set himself on fire inside a family home, triggering a massive explosion that injured more than a dozen people, including multiple NYPD officers.
The incident happened just after 2:40 a.m. on April 30, 2026, at a residence on 130th Street in South Ozone Park, according to police.
Officers were initially responding to a reported domestic disturbance involving a knife. Family members had called 911, warning that Anrup Parasram was inside the home, allegedly intoxicated, armed, and threatening relatives. They also reported smelling gas inside the building.
What happened next escalated in seconds.
As officers approached the front door, a powerful explosion ripped through the house, knocking responders off their feet, officials said. The blast triggered a five-alarm fire that engulfed the two-and-a-half-story home and spread to an adjacent building before the structure partially collapsed.
Inside the home, investigators believe Parasram poured an accelerant on the floor before igniting it and himself. His body was later recovered in the wreckage.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed him entering with bags containing unknown canisters, raising questions about how the explosion was engineered and how quickly the situation escalated from a domestic call to a catastrophic blast.
Eight NYPD officers were injured, suffering burns, cuts, and blast-related trauma. At least four civilians and one firefighter were also hurt, bringing the total injured to more than a dozen. All are reported to be in stable condition.
Assistant Chief Christopher McIntosh described the explosion as so intense it sent officers backward and across the street. Despite the danger, responders rushed in to search for survivors.
Family members who escaped the home survived and described a terrifying escape moments before the blast.
Neighbors said the explosion shook nearby houses and sent residents running into the street in the middle of the night. Some victims were given shelter, blankets, and clothing by locals as the fire continued to burn.
Authorities confirmed Parasram had a documented history of domestic incidents involving the same family, along with prior restraining orders that had expired.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, but early findings point to a deliberate ignition of flammable materials inside the residence.