One after another explosion is taking place in the country. In last week, these kinds of explosions have been occurred thrice. However, the specific reasons behind it haven’t been identified yet. The mystery gradually folded over the blast incident.
In an explosion in an oxygen plant located at Sitakunda of Chattogram on March 4, six people died. On the very next day, a building in Science Lab area of Dhaka suffered explosion as well. Due to the wall collapse in the incident, three people died and 30 others were injured. Just one day after this incident, another blast took place at 5pm on March 7 in a building located at Siddique Bazar area of Gulistan in the capital. 22 people died and more than hundred were injured in this terrible explosion. The explosion also damaged two adjacent buildings.
Prior to this, in 2019, three explosions occurred within a break of few days. On that year, in Jatrabari of the capital, a terrible explosion occurred due to poisonous gas stored inside of a manhole which caused three people injured. Besides, on June 10 and 11, two other explosions took place in Shanir Akhra and Mirhazaribagh. To finding out the mystery behind these explosions, separate investigation reports were submitted to Wari division of Dhaka Metropoliton Police. Another report was sent from Wari division to DMP commissioner on June 13. The report stated, two deceased people were identified as Farid Ahmed and Abir Hossain Miraz, who died in the separate explosion in Shanir Akhra in Kadamtali and Shampur, while another five were wounded.
Fire Service, Desa, directorate of explosion and police visited the accident spot after the explosion in Kadamtali. From the inspection, it has been found that the gas flowed from the leakage in Titas Gas Supply line to sewerage line adjacent to the bathroom store of Exim Bank. Then, from short circuit of AC and generator, the explosion occurred with a boom.
The report also stated, in the incident of explosion in Pipe Road of Shampur, leakage in Titas Gas line was also found. The gas released from the leakage stored in sewerage line closed due to dust and garbage. Biogas was already stored in the sewerage line. But because of the forced concrete casting on the back of the sewerage, the stored gas could not escape. As a result, the reaction of both gases and the high pressure along with temperature of the atmosphere caused a huge explosion. The explosion happened due to irregular maintenance and mismanagement of Titas Gas line and irregular management of City Corporation.
Apart from this, despite the complaints of the local residents, Titus Gas Authority did not repair the gas line leak, which caused the explosion. It is known that in that report, Titus Gas was also warned to take measures to prevent the risk of gas line leakage in the sewerage line. According to the experts, methane gas, higher than normal level, was accumulated in the gas line leakage before the accident took place. Methane gas is flammable. The presence of 5 to 15 percent or more methane gas in closed air is dangerous. Explosions and fires occur only when there’re sparks, match or other source of fire. Methane is often accompanied by hydrogen sulfide, which is not flammable by itself but is flammable in the presence of oxygen. Methane and hydrogen sulfide combine to increase flammability. That's why there was a big explosion in which buildings could also collapse.
Meanwhile, from the field visit on Tuesday's incident, it has been found that the building in Siddiqbazar became vulnerable after the explosion. Basement and ground floor collapsed, columns damaged. Other traders in the area said that after a sudden loud noise, smoke was seen flying from the building. The explosion in the seven-storey building hit adjacent buildings and nearby vehicles. Many were injured who were staying in front of the building. Blood was oozing from their bodies. At that time, bricks, wood and materials fell out of the building. Even a collapsible gate at the bottom of the building flew down on people in front. Many were injured by it. In the explosion, objects flew and hit one side of a passenger bus standing on the road, shattered all the windows of the bus and injured many passengers.
Apart from this, many pedestrians including drivers and passengers of several vans and rickshaws in front of the building were also injured. The basement, first and second floors of the building suffered the maximum damage. The roof of the first and second floors of the building collapsed and fell on the basement. Fire service officials said that they could see similarities here with the Moghbazar explosion in June 2021.
It is reported that DMP's Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) has not yet completed its investigation into the Moghbazar blast. On September 4, 2020, 34 people died in an explosion at a mosque in Fatulla, Narayanganj. After investigating the incident, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police revealed the cause of the explosion and said that there was illegal connection of gas and electricity inside the mosque. An explosion occurred when an electric spark came into contact with the gas coming out through the leakage of gas line. According to the fire service, over 2,000 accidents have occurred due to gas line leakage explosions in the last three years. In these accidents, properties and life of more than half a hundred crores of Taka have been damaged. Hundreds of people lost their lives.
Fire Service Deputy Director (Operation) Debashish Vardhan said Titus Gas was responsible for the risk of explosion in the sewage line, as well as it was the responsibility of the City Corporation. Three years ago, a sewerage line exploded in front of a bank in Rayerbazar and blew up to the wall. Titas gas leakage was found there. The existence of Titas gas line leakage was also found in the Moghbazar blast. 50-60 year old Titas gas line leaked, never repaired, and then exploded from accumulated methane gas. Flammables can even be found in dirty water. The gas produced from here also explodes and people die. For this, the concerned organizations should increase the inspection. Risk areas should be identified and measures should be taken. Everyone should be aware of everyone's position.
On the evening of June 27, 2021, an explosion occurred in a three-storey building in the Moghbazar Wireless Gate area. Almost the entire ground floor of the building was collapsed due to the explosion. Many people were burnt. 11 people were reportedly died in that accident. More than 150 were injured. At that time, the eyewitnesses said that after the sudden explosion, the glass, doors and windows of hundreds of businesses and houses were shattered. The sound of the blast and its aftermath caused damage to at least a kilometer area around the spot.
In this incident, the initial observation report of DMP's bomb disposal unit said that the explosion started when gas came out through the leakage of the pipe line. Accumulation of gas creates a 'gas chamber' in a room inside the building. Then it exploded with a boom when got ignited by a cigarette or some other means of fire. It was an explosion created by natural gas, methane or hydrocarbon.
@The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on March 10 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque
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