There have been cases of LPG cylinder explosions in Chilkalguda, Ameerpet, Malakpet and other parts of the city in the past few months, killing or injuring people.
Published Date – 10 February 2023, 10:05 PM
Hyderabad: Frequent reports of LPG cylinder explosions in the city once again highlight the need for proper handling of cooking gas cylinders in homes, offices and eateries. In the past few months, cases of LPG cylinder explosions have been reported in Chilkalguda, Ameerpet, Malakpet and other parts of the city, killing or injuring people.
Regional fire officer V Pappaiya said, “Basic safety precautions should be followed to avoid fire accidents involving LPG cylinders. The most important thing is to ensure that the cylinders and stoves are regularly checked for any damage.”
Most of these accidents occur in the morning when people get out of bed and light the stove or strike a match without checking for possible leaks. Sometimes fires start when someone turns on a light in the kitchen or a nearby room.
Most of the times, leakage occurs due to damage to the regulator, supply line or the rubber pipe connecting the cylinder to the stove. He said that if there is no proper ventilation in the room, the gas accumulates and catches fire when someone lights the stove or matches.
Rats present in the kitchen play a destructive role in fires caused by LPG cylinders.
“Rats damage the rubber pipes and the gas starts leaking slowly. The pipes should be checked regularly for damage and replaced at regular intervals,” Pappaiya said. A well-ventilated kitchen helps drain out the gas in case of a leak, otherwise it spreads in the house and causes disaster, he added.
In case of fire, people should not panic and should immediately leave the house. In case of fire in LPG cylinder, the fire can be extinguished using wet sacks or blankets. However, only those trained in fire fighting techniques are advised to do so.