13 cylinders and eight sacks of HIT bottles seized during search operation; gas sold to goldsmiths in smaller containers illegally
In a search operation, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) B ward seized 13 Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders and eight sacks of HIT (Mosquito repellent) containers (625 ml each) which were used to smuggle the gas in smaller containers from the original LPG cylinders, and were probably sold to goldsmiths who would later use it for melting metals. This is a dangerous activity as it is not only illegal, but can also lead to an uncontrolled explosion leading to the death of themen who were smuggling the gas and also the neighbouring people.
During the search operation, the officials of B Ward came across a peculiar vacant building belonging to MHADA. The gates of the building which was otherwise closed, was found open, however, no one appeared to be inside. Upon investigating with the nearby shop-owners, no one seemed to know anything that was happening inside the building. The officials went inside and found a few HIT bottles lying on the floor. They went further up and on reaching the third floor, three men were seen trying to transfer LPG from the original cylinders to the smaller containers of 'HIT'.
Upon seeing the officials, one of the accused men jumped right of the building from the third floor and the other two escaped as well.
Udaykumar Shiroorkar, Assistant Commissioner, B Ward said, “When they saw us, they ran away before we could get hold of them. They were using pumps and some machinery to pump out the gas from the LPG cylinders into the HIT bottles. It is not only illegal but also dangerous. They were not only pumping out the gas without any safety measures, they did it by turning the cylinder upside down, which is strictly against the cylinder safety rules. In addition, if someone who did not know that there is LPG inside the HIT containers and uses it as mosquito repellent, then it is likely that the container might blast off and prove to be fatal.”
Medical Officer Health (MOH) Mohokar said, “As the building belongs to MHADA, we could not register a case against anyone. However, we have written a letter to the MHADA asking them to seal the gates of this particular building so that there is no illegal activity in the future. Also, we suspect that these smaller containers were sold off to the goldsmiths who use it to melt metals.”