The Bumthang Police did not find any evidence of malpractice after almost a year’s investigation into a suspected gas cylinder explosion case that injured four people. The incident happened on July 26 last year at the Bhutan Oil Corporation’s (BOC) warehouse in Chamkhar and left four of its staff injured.
The police said tracing evidence was difficult as they were informed almost 16 hours after the incident. During this time, the company conducted an internal investigation. According to the police, this led to evidence getting tampered with.
The company called the police to investigate the case. Following the incident, the station’s manager had found the door of the warehouse removed and an empty, but undamaged, cylinder outside. Plastic seals of several cylinders’ lids had been melted as well. Besides, the four staff that were injured on the night of the mishap were off duty.
The incident sparked speculations on social media and among the Bumthang residents about the station’s staff selling underweight cylinders. However, in a statement to the police, the station’s manager said that they had not received any complaints of underweight cylinders from the customers.
Meanwhile, the four staff have now recovered. However, they remain suspended from their jobs. A legal officer from the Tashi Group of Companies said they are working on reinstating them.
Kipchu, Bumthang
Edited by Sonam Wangdi
