Dangerous 'gas balloons'

RECKLESS jaywalking is seen only in the big city roads in the country; but there are other such practices. In all of these practices, a section of people appears to be courting hazards with glee. Some of these resorted to by many lately are like flirting with death. But they care little. One of these practices has for sometime been illegal gas connection. It comprises taking gas for domestic use through illegal pipes connected to the main gas line passing through a particular area. Incidents of blast and sudden fire have occurred several times from these illegal gas connections. These gas pilferage cases are mainly seen in areas out of gas line coverage.

Lately, a section of people has gone a few steps further. Thanks to their ingenuity, they now take gas from the main line directly and store them at home for continuous use. They have done away with the cumbersome use of pipes in the stealing. Employing an electrically operated improvised device, they fill special types of balloons with gas. In many off-grid remote areas of the country, these 'gas balloons' hanging from trees or ropes are a common sight. Gas experts have detected possibilities of fatal accidents in the practice. Many people have dubbed the balloons just hanging bombs. But the people engaged in the dangerous act are unfazed. Are there none to make them aware of the danger they are living with?

Sharafat Ali

Sripalli, Munshiganj