THE RECENT spate of deadly incidents involving gas cylinders must bring the authorities’ attention to a daily hazard many across the country have been forced to live with. So far this week, 12 people, including five from a single family, have been killed and several others injured in two separate gas cylinder explosion incidents. Both occurred in residential buildings: one in Multan, the other in Quetta. Unsafe gas storage cylinders seem to be becoming a major cause for the mounting toll from domestic accidents, yet the issue has not received as much attention from the authorities as it deserves. Women and children are most at risk because they are frequently in close proximity to spaces where gas cylinders are used in households. Tragically, children accounted for most of the dead in the blasts reported this week.

The onset of Ramazan has increased the risk of deadly blasts, mainly because unreliable gas supply around sehr and iftar times often pushes even more households to opt for cylinders. Purchasing gas in pressurised containers helps households ensure that cooking activities can continue unhindered during peak times, when line gas often becomes unavailable. Given that it is primarily a governmental failure that a large number of citizens have no access to piped gas, those responsible must at least take measures to ensure that citizens forced to opt for cylinders do not expose themselves to avoidable risks. In this regard, a nationwide education campaign regarding cylinder safety can be launched, and the various Ramazan transmissions hosted by TV channels can be requested to include warnings for their viewers about the potential risks of using pressurised gas and what one may do to ensure their loved ones avoid harm. The unregulated cylinder-refilling industry also needs tighter monitoring and control, as smaller vendors operate without regard to any safety protocols. Gas cylinders are turning into a major health and safety issue, and the authorities must respond proactively.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2024