Mapusa mystery blast
THE CULPRIT: The deep cut at one end of the non-standard hose pipe that allegedly caused the leakage and consequently the blast.
MAPUSA
Goa Police and Fire and Emergency Service officials on Monday claimed that leakage of cooking gas from the hose pipe connected to the stove triggered the explosion, putting to rest the mystery over the blast that occurred in the bar and restaurant at Dangui Colony in Mapusa.
The officials also said that a high pressure regulator was used for a domestic cylinder and the hose pipe used to connect the cylinder and the stove was not of good quality.
“The hose pipe had a deep hollow crack at one extreme end which was connected to the stove. The speed of leakage was fast. We also found that a high pressure regulator was used on domestic cylinders and the hose pipe was not of ISI mark,” said Bosco Ferrao, Mapusa Fire Officer.
The Mapusa Fire Officer was addressing the media along with Mapusa SDPO, Jivba Dalvi and Mapusa PI, Paresh Naik at a hurriedly called press conference at the police station.
Initially, it was suspected to be a cylinder blast which was later ruled out as the cylinders were found intact. However, till late Sunday evening the authorities were not able to pin-point the exact cause of the blast.
Continuing, Ferrao informed that the police and the fire officials visited the bar and restaurant on Monday morning to re-examine the gas equipment.
Mapusa SDPO, Jivba Dalvi informed that after re-examination of the stove and the gas cylinder it was found that LPG leakage from the hose pipe caused the blast.
“The regulator was left in “on” position which resulted in leakage of gas the whole night. The gas accumulated in the room and unable to find an outlet the resultant blast ripped off the front shutter causing all the damage,” Dalvi said.
The SDPO also pointed out that the CCTV footage shows white smoke screen filtering out from the shutter for a few seconds and then the blast occurred.
Incidentally, the CCTV camera also showed that the owners shut shop at around 3.30 am and the blast occurred at around 5.30 am.
So was so much gas accumulated within just two hours?
Pandurang Uskaikar, representative of LPG dealer told The Goan that since the high pressure regulator was used the gas was coming out at a high speed and therefore gas could have accumulated within a short time.
The fire official also said that a burning lamp at the altar or a tiny spark from an electric socket could have triggered the fire and the consequent blast.
It may be recalled, an explosion in a bar and restaurant on the ground floor of a two storey building in the wee hours of Sunday at Dangui Colony in Mapusa damaged window panes of several flats while a wall of a nearby house also suffered a deep crack..
At least seven vehicles were also damaged. Fortunately there was no loss of life.
The intensity of the blast was so severe that the shutter and the window grill of the bar and restaurant was flung at least 20 to 30 metres away.
Later, the forensic team and the bomb disposal squad also visited the site and carried out investigations.
