Regular inspection, quality control a must

Some four youths have lost their lives in a gas cylinder explosion in Bhaluka of Mymensingh recently. The four students of Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) went to a readymade garment factory for their internship in Bhaluka. That’s why they rented a flat at the third floor of a six-storied building. And the cylinder explosion took place on March 24 in the residence which took their lives. 

Similar incidents of cylinder explosion and causalities are seen in newspapers or televisions regularly. Such incident not only takes place in Bhaluka but also transports across the country. On February 28, a youth succumbed to injury due to cylinder gas explosion in a Chinese restaurant in the capital's Jatrabari area.

Earlier, on February 14, two people were killed and five more injured when a gas cylinder exploded in Cox's Bazar. On October 15, last year, a woman worker died in a cylinder blast at a factory in Ashulia. A bus catches fire following explosion of its gas cylinder at Shahbagh in the capital on December 20, 2017. The passengers got down from the bus immediately. Fortunately, none of the passengers was injured in the mishap. Besides, two persons were injured in a cylinder blast at Khulshi Feeling Station. In a addition, 16 passengers received burn injuries when a cylinder of a bus exploded in Ghior of Manikganj.

It is seen that cylinder explosion becomes a regular matter across the country. The number of such accidents increased as the use of cylinders has risen in residences. But, the question is- why cylinder explosion takes place? In this context - the quality issue of gas cylinder comes first. There is an allegation that the markets are filled with low quality and old cylinders. Some of the users choose low quality cylinder to reduce cost. Some of the users buy low quality cylinder without checking security seal. 

On the other hand, there is also a question over the cylinder, and other equipments of CNG conversion. Regular inspection doesn't take place in this side. A survey said that most the CNG run vehicles in the capital remain out of regular inspection. As a result, there is a risk of explosion in these transports.

We hope that faulty and date expired gas cylinders should be identified on emergency basis. As cylinder is reusable so a regular checkup system is must here. A government system can be imposed in this sector. The concerned authority should take quick steps to ensure quality and secured use of cylinders. The cylinder users should be alert as well. The date of expire and quality should be checked during cylinder use.


risingbd/Dhaka/Apr 3, 2018/Ali Nowsher/Nasim