Gas supply restored to parts of Dhaka after 8hr disruption

Gas supply at seven areas of the capital was disrupted yesterday for nearly eight hours, after a distribution line caught fire.

The disruption occurred after Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) workers accidentally severed a pipe while working on a sewage line in West Shewrapara around 3am, said Shakhawat Hosen, deputy general manager of Titas Gas.

At 4:47am, a fire broke out at the severed gas line due to a spark from an electric transformer nearby, said Abdur Rahman, senior station officer of Mirpur Fire Station.

As the fire could not be doused immediately, the gas connection was switched off around 5am. The supply was restored around 1pm, after the pipeline was repaired.

"The fire was confined to the pipeline, so there was no major damage. But the valve at Amin Bazar had to be switched off," said Ali Mohammad Al Mamun, managing director of Titas Gas.

Gas supply in Dhanmondi, Shyamoli, Mohammadpur, Kallyanpur, Kazipara, Shewrapara and a part of Mirpur was unavailable during the period, he added.