GOLAKGANJ, July 28 � The repeated explosions in Dhubri district of stoves, hurricane lamps using kerosene oil have in the last one week claimed five lives and caused injuries to 59 persons, 13 of them seriously. Sale of kerosene has been banned in the district following the blasts.
The areas where such
explosions took place are Dhubri, Golokganj, Gauripur, Fakirganj, Tumarhat, Agomoni, Alamganj, South Geramari � all within Dhubri district.
It may be mentioned here that 13 persons injured in these blasts were shifted to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. The persons who died in such explosions are Aparna Ghosh (10), Mangali Baidya Kar (28), Rina Saha (40), Sina Dey (26) and Asraful Islam (7).
The explosions usually took place when match sticks were let to ignite stoves, hurricane lamps and kerosene oil lamps. According to unofficial estimate, around 80 persons were injured in such explosions.
Meanwhile, Dhubri DC, Sunil Dutta has said that the district administration has already taken prompt action to prevent further explosions by asking public in affected areas through public address system to avoid using kerosene oil.
The district administration, which collected samples to test the degree of inflammability, also banned the use and sale of kerosene in the district.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of Dhubri Foods and Civil Supplies Phuleswar Rabha said efforts are being made to collect all old stock of kerosene. After the July 20 explosion, the district administration has launched a massive drive to collect and seize oil stocks of kerosene from hawkers, fair price shops, residents and co-operatives.
Rabha added that consumers of the district will receive the quota of kerosene after two or three days.
Enamul Hoque, a noted social worker and local AGP leader, said all the victims were of poorer section of the society and they should get compensation as otherwise they would not be able to bear the cost of their treatment.
District secretary of All Assam Minority Students� Union Monour Hussain said people died and others affected due to the negligence of the Indian Oil Corporation and so they should be compensated soon.
Meanwhile, Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) of Bilasipara has directed all the secretaries of Gaon Panchayat Samabay Samities (GPSS), fair price shops, agents, SK oil hawkers and SK oil retailers under Bilasipara subdivision to immediately stop distribution of blue dyed subsidised kerosene oil due to the reported existence of highly inflammable substance in it, a press release issued by Janasanyog stated.
According to another release, the Government of Assam has directed the Deputy Commissioners and Sub-Divisional Officers (Civil) to collect blue dyed PDS subsidised kerosene oil samples from sensitive areas and depots and send the same independently to the Forensic Laboratory at Guwahati for investigation.
The district and subdivisional authorities have also been directed to take preventive and precautionary steps to ensure safety of consumers and FIC card holders and to ensure that there is no panic amongst the public, following the explosions of hurricane lamps, stoves, etc., in Dhubri district.
