Danger from LNG and CNG cylinders  

The death of a child from cylinder blast in a kitchen at Dhalpur, Jatrabari has caused bleeding to many a heart. Six more people there were also injured. But it was the small soul that instantly perished under the impact of the gas explosion. There is no knowing if the rest of the victims will survive or not. In one such cylinder explosion in a house at Mirpur, an entire family was killed. All the injured succumbed to death one by one over months. In that tragic incident, gas line leak was the cause of the family's annihilation. The family just shifted to the rented house and unsuccessfully tried to draw attention of the house owner to the faulty gas line.

Clearly, leak of gas pipe and blast of gas cylinder have been claiming lives in an increasing number of late. Loss of life to such incidents is indicative of human oversight or indifference. How uncaring the entire exercise is can be realised from the fact that once gas connection is given, it is never inspected by expert technicians -let alone engineers! Any pipe -no matter how strong and durable its materials are -can develop wear and tear over the years for different reasons. The chances of it happening are greater in a country where heat and humidity are so predominant. Yet there is no provision for any inspection by an expert team even after 10 or 20 years. If there is any problem with gas supply, a repairer of oven, who offers his service like a street hawker, comes to the rescue. Such an arrangement with something like a potential explosive time bomb cannot be acceptable. The same is the condition of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders and condensed natural gas (CNG) cylinders. Running out of their active life span, such cylinders require replacement. But except a few the majority of the companies refuelling cylinders and vehicle owners/operators -hardly bother.

Under the law, cylinders of both varieties are required to be tested for their fitness but this mandatory requirement is overlooked by owners of vehicles and traders of gas cylinders. When each and every such container should be subjected to rigorous tests to authenticate its durability, there are even companies which use substandard cylinders. Both compromise on the standard of cylinders and inattention to timely tests of old cylinders can be a source of tragedy any time. Reportedly, the problem has started mounting in the port city of Chattogram. The capital city is unlikely to be far behind.

Once a number of CNG-converted vehicles were consumed in a fireball originating from explosion of substandard gas cylinders those used. It was also learnt at that time that some dishonest drivers in collusion with mechanics at car service centres replaced quality cylinders for substandard ones without the owner's knowledge. The drivers did it in exchange for a few bucks. But after a few such cylinder explosions in which both driver and passengers fell victim, the malpractice stopped. As for the time-expired cylinders, there is no such dubious means of getting any profit but a lack of awareness is responsible for this.

Technology has advanced to a stage where users of gadgets are now reminded of many things they forget. Fitting such a technology with gas cylinders will make those unaffordable to users. But apps can be developed in order to issue signal for testing the CNG cylinders used in cars. Smartphones will remind the owners when the active life of cylinders comes to an end. As for the LNG cylinders, though, the users have no choice but accept what their companies supply them. So the onus is on the companies supplying LNG. The users should be insured against any harm caused to them and the company responsible will be made to pay the compensation