Reported by Mrinal Banik
Agartala: A day after a powerful explosion ripped through an apartment at Shankar Chowmuhani in Agartala’s Ramnagar area, the injured occupant died of severe burn injuries at GB Pant Hospital on Friday, while Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said preliminary findings indicate that an unsecured piped natural gas (PNG) connection may have triggered the blast.
The deceased, Subhrajit Chowdhury, was an educator associated with SIP Abacus and used the apartment as a coaching centre for conducting classes.
After visiting the site, the Chief Minister said initial investigations suggest gas leaked from an unused PNG pipeline connection that had allegedly been left open inside the building.
According to Saha, PNG supply had been provided to residential flats on the upper floors, and the same pipeline network extended to the flat where the explosion occurred.
As gas continued flowing through the system, it is suspected to have escaped through the unsecured connection in the vacant line.
The leaked gas is believed to have ignited when Chowdhury attempted to light an incense stick, resulting in the explosion.
He said the exact cause would be established through a detailed investigation, and responsibility would be fixed on those found negligent.
Expressing grief over the incident, Saha said the victim’s family had requested that he be shifted to Kolkata for advanced treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries before arrangements could be completed.
The Chief Minister said Chowdhury had suffered nearly 90 per cent burns. The Chief Minister also expressed concern over the apparent negligence in the installation and maintenance of the gas pipeline network.
Meanwhile, the state government has constituted a high-level inquiry committee headed by the Secretary of the Urban Development Department to investigate the incident.
The panel has been asked to submit its report within seven days.
The committee comprises the Director of Fire and Emergency Services, the Commissioner of Agartala Municipal Corporation, the Superintendent of Police (West Tripura), and the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (Buildings).