Idli steamer explosion at Chutney’s Hotel in L.B. Nagar injures four

An idli steamer at Chutney’s Hotel in the L.B. Nagar neighborhood of Hyderabad exploded during afternoon operations on Feb. 20, 2026, injuring four kitchen workers. The blast produced what has been described as a violent "fireball" or pressure event inside the restaurant's kitchen, according to accounts of the incident.

Chutney’s Hotel, a well-known restaurant in L.B. Nagar, was operating its afternoon service when the idli steamer failed and the explosion occurred. The device involved was being used as part of routine kitchen work at the time of the incident, with staff present and actively handling food preparation during the afternoon shift.

Four members of the kitchen staff sustained injuries in the blast. All four are identified only as kitchen workers in available reports; no names, ages, or detailed medical conditions have been released publicly. The nature of the injuries beyond being described as resulting from the pressure event has not been detailed.

The explosion sent a sudden pressure event through the kitchen area, producing a visible fireball effect inside the workspace. That violent internal event occurred on the afternoon of Feb. 20, 2026, during active operations at the restaurant, highlighting that the incident happened while Chutney’s Hotel was serving customers in the L.B. Nagar area.

Chutney’s Hotel’s management and local authorities have not released additional operational details about the steamer model or maintenance history. The known facts remain that the idli steamer exploded, that the blast created a violent pressure event inside the kitchen, and that four kitchen workers were injured in the incident at the L.B. Nagar restaurant on Feb. 20, 2026. The event is recorded as a workplace accident affecting kitchen staff at a prominent local eatery.