Bakhrabad Gas line repair begins after fire incident

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CHITTAGONG, Sept 12 (UNB): Work began Wednesday to restore gas supply through the pipeline of the expanded Bakhrabad Gas line that exploded into a devastating fire at the middle of the Kalurghat bridge over the Karnaphuli river Tuesday night.
The fire, which broke out at about 8:30pm, was brought under control at about 11:30pm after severing gas connection at three points.
The fire, which rose up to 150 feet above the ground and spread to two and a half kilometers from the spot, was fully brought under control at about 11:30pm after the gas connection was severed, according to Bakhrabad Gas sources.
Immediately after outbreak of the fire, firefighters from different stations rushed to the spot and tried to douse the blaze, but to little effect until disconnection of the gas supply.
An official of the Bakhrabad Gas Systems Limited (BGSL) said divers Wednesday got down onto the riverbed to repair the affected gas line and also to detect what caused the accident.
Initially, the authorities assumed that the pipeline passing through the riverbed might have surfaced slightly due to lifting of sand by commercial collectors and then the pipeline had developed leakage being hit by something else.
However, gas supply resumed through alternative means from early Wednesday to the industrial units in the areas adjoining the fire spot, where gas connection was severed during the explosion.
A four-member inquiry committee, headed by BGSL General Manager (Transmission) Mahbub Hossain, was formed Wednesday to find out the exact cause of the fire.