Cooking gas cylinders are a menace lurking in many kitchens across the country, having caused several major fires in recent years.
According to an annual report of the Explosives Department, there have been six major gas cylinder explosions in 2020-21.
Improper use and cylinders of poor quality were cited as the main causes of gas leaks that resulted in explosions. Once gas has accumulated in a building, it is extremely easy for an explosion to occur if it is not dispersed, Fire Service and Explosives Department officials have said.
In November, a cooking gas cylinder explosion left four members of a family with burn injuries in the capital’s Mugda. The explosion occurred when someone in the house lit a match.
In January this year, four people were killed and 20 others were injured when a deadly fire broke out following a cooking gas cylinder explosion at a colony of apparel workers in Kaliakair upazila of Gazipur. As many as 50 houses were also burnt at Nobboi Colony in Kalampur when the fire spread to the area.
Abul Kalam Azad, chief explosives inspector of the Explosives Department, told Dhaka Tribune the danger posed by gas cylinders was exacerbated by their being set up in indoor spaces with poor air circulation.
“We can build awareness about safe usage of the LPG cylinders, but it is difficult to go inside someone’s house and tell them to handle the gas cylinders with caution. Cooking gas cylinders, if not well handled, can lead to fatal accidents, such as explosions. Sometimes, the cause [of the explosion] has been negligence on the part of the consumer,” he said.
He said the Explosives Department had prepared a pamphlet with safety guidelines for buyers of gas cylinders, but he was not sure if everyone followed the instructions.
He added that poor quality gas cylinders on the market increased the risk of leaks.
“There are a few top companies that produce gas cylinders, but faulty regulators, valves, connectors or tubes sometimes result in leakage and therefore there are a plenty of factors sellers have to take care of for their safety and buyers’ safety," he said.
Debashis Bardhan, deputy director (Dhaka division) of Fire Service and Civil Defence, told Dhaka Tribune sellers often distributed cheap and faulty gas cylinders to buyers in order to generate additional profits.
“If there is a leak and someone switches on anything, even a fan or mosquito racquet, there will be an explosion,” he said.
Some accidents are preventable because the gas has an odour and people can easily smell if there is a leak. They just need to open the window and wait for 15 to 20 minutes so the gas can escape, according to the fire service official.
“People have this misconception that only lighting a match can end in an explosion if there is gas leakage. Natural gas is flammable and when someone switches on or off any electric device, it can cause a spark which leads to a huge explosion,” he said.
According to the 1991 gas cylinder rule, the sales floor of cylinder traders must be made of concrete. At the same time, sellers must ensure proper storage, fire extinguishers and have clearances from the Fire Services.