Dhaka, Jan 08 (V7N) – Gas supply has been disrupted in several parts of the capital after a major leakage was detected in a gas pipeline running beneath the Buriganga River, causing widespread suffering for hundreds of thousands of consumers.
 
The affected areas include Aminbazar, Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Adabor, Azimpur, Old Dhaka and nearby localities, where residents have been facing severe difficulties due to low gas pressure or a complete suspension of supply for the past three days.
 
Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited General Manager (Operations) Engineer Kazi Mohammad Saidul Hasan said on Wednesday afternoon that the pipeline carrying gas from Aminbazar developed a leak beneath the Buriganga River. As a precautionary safety measure, gas pressure in surrounding areas was reduced.
 
He said teams from Titas Gas, the Bangladesh Coast Guard, Fire Service and Civil Defence, and professional divers have been working jointly on repair operations for the past three days. A leak clamp was installed on Wednesday, which helped reduce the leakage, but the repair work has not yet been fully completed. A specially designed new clamp will be required for permanent repairs, after which work will resume. Gas pressure will be increased gradually once the situation stabilises.
 
However, in a statement issued late Wednesday night, Titas Gas said that the installation of the clamp on the leaking pipeline had been completed with the assistance of the Fire Service, Bangladesh Coast Guard, River Police and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority. The company said gas is currently being supplied to Dhaka’s network at a pressure of twenty-five PSIG, and no visible external gas leakage has been detected at present.
 
The disruption has worsened the existing gas crisis during the winter season. In many households across Aminbazar, Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Adabor, Azimpur and large parts of Old Dhaka, gas stoves have remained unusable for several days. Residents said they have been unable to cook throughout the day due to the lack of gas supply.
 
Many affected families complained that they are being forced to eat outside as cooking at home has become impossible. Although some considered using liquefied petroleum gas as an alternative, they said the high price makes it unaffordable. They also criticised the authorities for failing to provide prior notice, saying that advance information could have helped them make alternative arrangements.
 
The gas shortage has also led to increased sales of induction cookers and electric stoves at electronics shops across the city. 
 
Low gas pressure has further affected CNG filling stations, where long queues of vehicles have been reported. Drivers said they are having to wait for two to three hours to refill gas, resulting in reduced daily earnings.
 
Authorities said repair efforts are continuing and assured that full gas supply will be restored as soon as technical and safety requirements are met.
 
END/AJ/SMA?