Cylinder explosion in Ashulia: Titas alleges illegal gas use in factory

New information has come to the fore in the incident of eight people being killed and 26 injured in a gas cylinder explosion in the factory premises in Jamgara of Ashulia of Savar. The officials of Titas Gas have alleged that gas was brought in transportable cylinders from CNG stations and used in the factory of Preety Composing Limited.

The incident of casualties occurred after a gas cylinder exploded in a covered van kept in the factory premises and the fire spread in the evening on Sunday (September 20).

The concerned have informed that explosions occurred in the gas cylinders of eight covered vans kept in the factory premises. Due to this several people died at the spot. Later several more died while under treatment at the hospital. Among the deceased there is also one woman. That woman who was outside the factory at the time of the explosion died at the spot due to the impact of the cylinder.

Among the injured four had been admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Two of them died by noon on Monday while under treatment there. The identity of two of the eight deceased so far has been identified. They are Joynab Begum, 55, of Israkandi area of Kashimpur of Gazipur, and Nazrul Islam, 30, of Abudanga village under Daulatpur upazila of Manikganj. The identity of several bodies recovered from the covered vans has not yet been identified.

The officials of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC are saying that bringing gas in transportable cylinders from CNG stations and using it for industrial factories or household works is prohibited. Their allegation is that gas was brought and used in this way in the factories of Preety Group. Their claim is that these cylinders were brought and taken in covered vans to avoid the notice of the law enforcement agencies and Titas.

Manager of the Media and Public Relations Division of Titas Gas Md Al Amin said all the CNG stations of the country have been warned by giving letters not to supply or sell gas from CNG stations in transportable cylinders. Even after that he alleged that some stations are secretly supplying gas in these cylinders to run the generators of industrial factories and houses in the hope of more profit.

However the Fire Service has not yet been able to confirm the specific reason of the explosion. A four-member committee has been formed with Assistant Director Kazi Nazmulzaman as convener to investigate the incident. Deputy Assistant Director of Zone-4 of Dhaka North of the Fire Service Hafizur Rahman has informed that the reason of the accident could not be confirmed in the preliminary investigation. The main reason of the explosion will be known after finishing the investigation.

Meanwhile a general holiday has been declared at the factory after the incident. The law enforcement agencies have surrounded the factory for security.

Officer-in-charge of Ashulia police station Mohammad Tarikul Islam has informed that the work of identifying the identity of the deceased is going on and the process of filing a case in the incident is also advancing.

Alongside the industrial police has informed that it will be investigated and seen whether there was any irregularity in the use of gas at the factory and whether anyone has responsibility for the accident.