Gas supply disrupted in Uttara, surrounding areas after pipeline valve failure

Gas supply was suspended in several parts of northern Dhaka on Tuesday night after a valve connected to an industrial service line ruptured near the Uttara-Tongi Bridge, causing a high-pressure gas leak.

In a press release issued on Tuesday night, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC said it had shut down the main pipeline supplying Uttara as an emergency measure following the incident.

According to the statement, the leakage forced authorities to shut down the 12-inch diameter main distribution pipeline in Uttara, leaving gas supply suspended in Uttara, Uttarkhan, Dakshinkhan and adjacent areas. Work to replace the damaged valve is currently underway.

The valve is used to regulate gas flow and is installed at different points along the pipeline network, Titas said.

The incident marks the third pipeline-related accident in the capital within the past two weeks, raising concerns over the safety and reliability of Dhaka's gas distribution system.

Titas Gas apologised for the temporary inconvenience caused to consumers.

The disruption comes at a time when Dhaka has been facing an acute shortage of LPG over the past month, with consumers struggling to procure cylinders even at nearly double the usual price. Meanwhile, repeated pipeline accidents have further strained the supply of piped gas.

On 4 January, a pipeline beneath the Turag River developed a leak, which continues to affect gas supply in Mirpur and Mohammadpur. 

Earlier on 10 January, a valve failure in front of the Ganabhaban led to a suspension of gas supply for several hours before services were restored later that night after a replacement valve was installed