Titas blames customer, mosque committee for deadly Narayanganj blast

The committee of gas utility Titas to investigate the deadly blast at a mosque in Narayanganj’s Fatullah has submitted its report, identifying four reasons behind the incident.

The investigators say burying the gas riser, illegal electricity connection to the mosque, keeping the authorities in the dark about damage of pipeline, and faulty construction might have led to the explosion.

More than 50 Muslim worshippers sustained critical burn injuries in the blast during Isha prayers at the Baitus Salat mosque in Pashchimtalla neighbourhood on Sep 4.

As many as 31 of the victims have died while five others are undergoing treatment.

The investigation report says gas from the old, damaged pipe and riser under the floor accumulated inside the mosque, of which the windows and gates were closed due to air-conditioning.

At least 40 Muslim worshippers were burnt in what the authorities said were explosions of air-conditioners at Baitus Salat Jame Masjid in Narayanganj’s Fatullah on Sep 4, 2020.

One of the power lines to the mosque was illegal. When the muezzin switched the line after a power cut during the prayers, a spark triggered a fire in the gas, the Titas investigators believe.

Abdul Wahab, a Titas general manager who headed the investigation, handed the final report to State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid on Thursday.

Later, Nasrul said at a press conference no one, be they customers or the agency, will be able to evade the liabilities if negligence is found.

The Fire Service and Civil Defence said immediately after the incident that six air-conditioners exploded at a time, but investigations led to leaks in the gas pipeline.

When Titas set up a new gas pipeline under a street next to the mosque in 1998, an old line to the homes of Shawkat Ali and Md Barek Dewan were cut off outside the houses.

A portion of the old line to the homes of Shawkat and Barek, however, remained connected with the main one.

Titas found the new lines intact after digging up the street following the blast while six leaks were found on the old pipeline.

The report says the customers shifted the gas risers under the ground and plugged the old line illegally.

Wahab said the old line was four inches inside the edge of the mosque’s basement.

The builders kept the line above the basement while constructing the mosque, he said.

They damaged the line during the construction but did not inform Titas, the investigator said.

“We would have stopped supply to the abandoned line if they had informed us about the damage,” he added.

He also said the gas from the leaks made way into the mosque because the builders did not use concrete beneath the tiles.

The committee found an unmetered, illegal electricity connection which the mosque used during power cuts in the main line.

“Maybe a spark while switching the line during power cut triggered the explosion,” Wahab said.

He denied the allegation that Titas officials had asked for money to repair the pipeline when the mosque committee informed them about the leaks.

Titas had received no written or verbal complaint about the leaks, Wahab said.