Outrageous indifference

Gas explosion is allegedly responsible for a fire that has left a six-storey building in the capital's Banani area unfit for human living. A number of the building's residents had received injuries in the accident before the fire was brought under control by the fire brigade and the house declared abandoned. Mercifully, no casualty was reported.
This is the second such tragic incident to have occurred in the capital's posh areas, as against unremarkable crowded localities, within a month. In the first such tragic incident, an engineer's family has been devastated. The engineer, his three sons 15 years, 11 years and 14 months old respectively and his 35-year old wife sustained severe burn injuries when the leaked gas pipe in the kitchen of their newly hired flat exploded.
First the eldest and youngest sons succumbed to their injuries, then the engineer himself also died. After an epic battle, his wife also made her final journey, leaving the 11-year old son alone in this world. It has been a tale of unmitigated tragedy ever since the members started breathing their last one by one. When the mother and son were admitted to a private hospital in Mohammadpur area, both knew that they were so close. But yet condition was so critical that a reunion between the mother and son was out of the question.
Now that the son is out of danger, he wants to know how her mother, brothers and father are doing. Little Jariff has not been told that all who he is anxious to see are no more and lost from his life forever. He is still undergoing treatment and that perhaps is a reason why the hard truth is kept away from him. Sure enough, the fear of an overwhelming psychological trauma he is likely to experience is in everyone's mind. The little boy will need some counselling before he is given to know of his enormous loss.
No amount of money can compensate the devastation the family has suffered. But it was the alleged indifference of the house owner that is blamed for the tragedy. Repeated requests for repair of the leak fell on deaf ear. After all, a flat can be offered for renting if vital utility systems like gas, water and electricity are in order. But if the complaints are not off the target, the owner of the house could not care less.
Similarly, in case of the latest gas explosion in Bananani, complaints lodged with the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company, as alleged, was not taken seriously. A gas pipe under repair was leaking and this was brought to the company's notice through a complaint and then this was reported three times on Thursday but to no avail. The accident occurred a few hours later.
If this is so, the Titas cannot shirk responsibility for the accident. What mindless indifference! When a utility service undertakes any work of extension or repair, its primary duty is to ensure that it does not leave the task half done with the possibility of it turning into something of a keg of gunpowder. Gas has the potential of reaping through like explosives. Safety rules are no strong point with people in this part of the world. But at least organisations cannot afford to be callous when protection of human lives and property are concerned.