Wolverhampton explosion: Remains of Penn house finally cleared
The remains of a Wolverhampton home which was destroyed by a huge explosion nearly three months ago have finally been cleared.
A mound of rubble was all that was left following the blast in December last year, in which pensioner Wendy Ayoub miraculously survived after her washing machine fell on top of her, shielding her from the debris.
The wreckage in Penn Road was untouched until late February when diggers moved in to begin the mammoth task of clearing the site.
As shown in these pictures, the debris has now gone and the ground is flat, revealing the back garden to passers-by.
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The explosion also caused significant damage to the neighbouring property belonging to 48-year-old Daljit Uppal.
Speaking to the Express & Star, he said the contractors brought in to deal with Mrs Ayoub's house had also had to demolish part of his home. It has now been boarded up.
His family were unable to move back in following the blast on December 28 and burglars targeted the property twice, stealing jewellery among other items.
"I have lost almost a third of my house," he said. "They had to take down what was an extension which included the living room, a utility room, an upstairs bedroom and an en suite. That has all completely gone and has now been boarded up.
"When I meet the structural engineers next week they will be looking at the next steps and how to go about rebuilding my house and getting it back to the way it was.
"They have already spoke to the council who have informed them they will have to resubmit for planning permission. It is going to be a long process.
"But at least things are progressing. Obviously it will take a long time but things are progressing."
Mr Uppal was on holiday in India when the explosion took place. The entire left side of his home, which he shared with wife Kuldip, 48 and son Sam 19, was ripped open, with bricks strewn across his new dining table.
A new driveway costing around £6,000 has also had to be ripped up by workmen since the blast for gas main repairs.
The family have been forced to rent a property elsewhere in the city and leave belongings with relatives.
Builders were brought in on Friday to make their home of more than 20 years watertight.
He is confident it will not need to be demolished despite the extensive damage. He added: "You hear about things like this happening and you see it on the news, but when it actually happens to you it is hard to take in.
"We had spent a lot on the house and spent over a year getting it to exactly how we wanted it.
"Then all of a sudden within a few seconds it had all gone. It is very hard to take.
"But the main thing is it could have been a lot worse. That is what we keep telling ourselves and what keeps us going." On the day of the explosion, emergency teams found Mrs Ayoub after they heard her calling out for help and pulled her from the rubble – with only a broken ankle, cuts and bruises.
Mrs Ayoub, whose husband Fouzi died in a car accident in Mali in 2000, later said that her washing machine saved her life.
The cause for the blast is yet to be fully established. Investigations were put on hold until the clean-up began. Mr Uppal said he remains in touch with his former neighbour.
"She is in good spirits despite everything which has happened," he said. "She is a very strong lady and a real fighter. She is determined to get back to full health.
"She is aware of the work going on now but all along her main concern has been for my wife.
"Everything of hers was in that house, all of her memories were there. Even her car was underneath the rubble."
