Gas supply cuts pose threat to life, property

Many people died, injured, houses burnt due to explosions triggered by gas leakages

KARACHI:

Gas load-shedding has increased across the metropolitan city with the onset of winter. Apart from issues in kitchens, gas outages could lead to mishaps, endangering lives, especially when unsuspecting women forget to switch off stoves and ovens in their kitchens not knowing when the supplies will be restored.

Residents in various localities told The Express Tribune that winter has hardly started, while the city has already been subjected to the worst gas load-shedding, especially from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am.

When the supply of piped gas is restored in the morning, gas is released from the stoves left turned on. The moment a match stick is lit in the morning, the accumulated gas triggers an explosion and fire which causes losses of life and property.

There are reports that when residents come to know that the house is filled with gas, they turn on lights in panic and the electric spark causes an explosion.

According to SSGC officials if there is any doubt of gas leakage, people should neither turn on electricity nor light any match stick, instead they should immediately open the doors and windows of the house to allow the gas to disperse.

SSGC officials also urged consumers to keep gas valves shut when the appliances are not in use. If there is no supply, even then keep the valve shut, otherwise there will be gas leakage when the supply resumes, they warned.

As police reports, many explosions have occurred due to gas leakage at homes, causing fatalities and injuries to families.

Consumers have demanded of SSGC to avoid gas supply cuts at night in winter because, people shut windows to keep out the cold, this prevents leaking gas to escape and explosions occur.

Fatal explosions

On November 11, a newlywed couple was severely burnt in an explosion triggered by gas leakage. Napier police station SHO said the gas stove had been inadvertently left turned on during outage. The couple, Muhammad Aziz, 22, and Bismah, 20, had left their studio apartment to eat out. However, they left the valve of the stove open. When they returned, opened the door and switched on the light there was a huge explosion. They were rushed to Civil Hospital where they are still under treatment.

On November 16, there was a massive explosion due to gas leakage in a house in New Golimar Phol Wali Street within the limits of Rizvia police station. As a result, the house caught fire, and the husband, wife, and three children suffered severe burns and were shifted to Civil Hospital.

According to the Rizvia police, among those injured in the blast were the head of the house, 45-year-old Waseem, son of Yousuf, his wife, 35-year-old Umbreen, and three children, 6-year-old Sami, 8-year-old Umm-Habiba and 10-year-old Rubab.

On October 31, a fire broke out in a house in Orangi Town Millat Colony due to the leakage. A man his wife and five children suffered burn injuries.

The head of the house, Riaz Amiruddin, 50, and his three sons, Ali Raza, 26, Anas Raza, 16, and Owais Raza, 14, were critically injured. Riaz's wife, Husan Ara, 50, and two daughters, Aliza, 22, and Areba, 14, suffered minor burn injuries. Riaz later died during treatment.

Earlier on October 24, five members of the same family were seriously injured in an explosion due to gas leakage in a house in Fatima Jinnah Colony, New Karachi.

Those who sustained burns in the blast in the blast include, the head of the family, 52-year-old Muhammad Sarwar son of Samir, 48-year-old Samina, wife of Muhammad Sarwar and their 3 children, 15-year-old Muhammad Anis, 13-year-old Safia and 17-year-old Atiya.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2022.