Gas cooker explosions continue

Over 30 incidents of gas cooker explosions have been reported in the past few days from all over the country.

According to police 25 gas cooker explosions, nine gas leaks and one regulator explosion have been reported.

In a house in Veragama, Vavuniya a gas cooker exploded causing minor damages to the kitchen. Another house in Kalutara north saw the kitchen damaged after the gas cooker exploded. The house owner said the gas cooker was switched off when the blast took place. A similar incident was reported from a house in Veyangoda and a house in Bambarakelle in Nuwara-Eliya. Two gas cooker explosions were reported in Puttalam, one in a house and the other in a food boutique.

State Minister of Cooperative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection Lasantha Alagiyawanna said from tomorrow (3) all gas cylinders imported will go through testing before the stocks are released to the market.

“State institutions and gas companies will go to the ship and conduct tests. Experts are of the view that if chemical content in the cylinder is changed, the regulator and other equipment should be changed accordingly. The Standards Institution will conduct tests on its chemical changes in the coming days,” he said.

Gas cookers and cylinders in several houses in Athurugiriya and Kottawa area were inspected by the committee headed by Professor Shantha Walpola.