Exposed pipeline: Gas seeps into houses through sewage lines

SNGP workers are accused to have left unfinished work behind.

PESHAWAR:

The residents of the congested locality of Sheikhabad are still waiting for Sui Northern Gas Pipeline (SNGP) officials to fix a massive gas leak.

The leak infiltrated the sewage lines of households, endangering many residents.

Three days ago, a nine-year-old girl, Misbah Bibi, died and three other family members were severely burnt as fire erupted in their house. The house was filled with gas that had infiltrated through the sewage line that intersects with the main old gas supply line.

“We tried to contact SNGP officials before this incident but they did not respond to our calls,” said Zafar Iqbal, whose brother was severely injured in the blast.

He told The Express Tribune that when local police officials contacted SNGP after the incident took place, they only turned off the gas supply to households in the area and did not take any further action.

The government is installing a new gas pipeline in various localities of Peshawar city as the old pipeline has been worn out. Locals complained that the old pipeline, that was being laid down along the sewage line, is leaking gas into their homes.

They also complain that SNGP staff did not complete their work and left behind many old leaking pipes. The holes SNGP has left behind can be seen in the streets of Shaikhabad. People have taken an initiative to fill several holes outside their homes to reduce the gas emissions.

“Every time they come, they break apart our streets,” said Fahim Khan, a local. “They make huge holes and then leave their work unfinished and disappear for weeks.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2012.