Pipeline blast snaps gas supply to two districts
Friday, 3 August 2007
PABNA, Aug 02 (UNB): Gas supply to several upazilas in Pabna and in Sirajganj came to a halt following explosion in a pipeline of West Zone Gas Company in Nalka river near the western end of the Jamuna Bridge early Thursday.
The gas company sources and locals said pipeline running through the Nalka river exploded with a "big bang" at about 4:30am.
On information, company officials rushed in but failed to fix the faults immediately, as the pipeline remained 13 feet under water and there are strong currents flowing in the river in spate for flooding.
The authorities stopped the supply of gas apprehending any disaster.
Gas supply to Pabna town, Ishwardi, Bera, Sathiya of Pabna and Ullapara and Shahjadpur upazilas of Sirajganj came to a halt after the blast.
All gas-driven industries and PDB's two power plants at Baghabari-one 71mw and another 100mw-also came to a halt since morning for want of gas.
About 11,000 people of those areas fell in trouble following the explosion.
A local official of West Gas Company said gas supply to the areas could remain suspended for indefinite period because the fault could not be repaired until the floodwater receded.
With the stoppage of gas supply, local people started thronging the LP gas shops whose owners are allegedly charging double rates to cash in on the crisis.
The gas company sources and locals said pipeline running through the Nalka river exploded with a "big bang" at about 4:30am.
On information, company officials rushed in but failed to fix the faults immediately, as the pipeline remained 13 feet under water and there are strong currents flowing in the river in spate for flooding.
The authorities stopped the supply of gas apprehending any disaster.
Gas supply to Pabna town, Ishwardi, Bera, Sathiya of Pabna and Ullapara and Shahjadpur upazilas of Sirajganj came to a halt after the blast.
All gas-driven industries and PDB's two power plants at Baghabari-one 71mw and another 100mw-also came to a halt since morning for want of gas.
About 11,000 people of those areas fell in trouble following the explosion.
A local official of West Gas Company said gas supply to the areas could remain suspended for indefinite period because the fault could not be repaired until the floodwater receded.
With the stoppage of gas supply, local people started thronging the LP gas shops whose owners are allegedly charging double rates to cash in on the crisis.