1 person dead as East Brunswick explosion levels home

EAST BRUNSWICK (WABC) -- Investigators recovered the body of a man from the scene of an explosion and house fire in New Jersey.

The body was found at the home at 4 Agate Road in East Brunswick. His name is being withheld pending confirmation of his identity and notification of his next of kin, according to East Brunswick Police Department and the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

Police and firefighters were dispatched to the home at 11:26 p.m. on Tuesday and found the building totally engulfed.

The house was completely leveled and burned to a pile of rubble. The fire department has been unable to locate the resident of the home, who has been identified as Terry Punia.

The blast rocked the neighborhood.

"And we looked out our back window and saw the house on fire, and then the whole thing went up and burned to the ground," said neighbor Roy Russo.

As investigators combed the debris all morning and early afternoon, looking for the cause and possible victims, friends of Punia began trying to locate him.

"His brother has not heard from him. I have not heard from him. He wasn't big on cellphones, but I did email him this morning, didn't get him, neither did his brother," said a friend, Barry Greenberg.

"He's a very good neighbor. He grew tomatoes and would bring them over to us," said neighbor Faran Ahsan.

A cadaver dog was brought in, and within minutes indicated an area where, minutes later, tarp was hung and a body removed.

Punia's family attorney came, saying the homeowner's brother, who lives out of state, asked him to be there.

"I believe he lived alone in the house, he was divorced several years ago. I knew his father. He did not work, I don't believe Terry worked," said attorney Alan Cosner.

Many describe Punia as a loner who loves to play the guitar, who grew up in the home.

An autopsy will be performed by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner's Office. An investigation into the cause of the explosion is continuing.

Anyone with information about the case, is asked to call (732) 390-6990, or (732) 745-3908.