How to Stay Safe from LPG Gas Fires and Explosions: A Complete Community Guide (Nepal)

by Sujan Gurung, 14th November 2025

Introduction

LPG gas has become an essential part of daily cooking in Nepal. With LPG use increasing by nearly 20% every year, cylinders are now found in almost every home, from urban apartments to rural villages. But with rising distribution and demand, LPG-related fire incidents are also increasing, often with tragic consequences. At Boltek Enterprise, we believe that fire safety begins at home. Understanding how LPG works, how gas leaks occur, and how accidents can be prevented is a major step toward building a safer community.

Real Incidents That Raise Hard Questions

In recent years, several heartbreaking accidents have shaken Nepali communities:

Sindhupalchok, April 3, 2022 – A sudden cylinder explosion killed three children inside their home, leaving the family devastated. Investigations revealed the cause: poor-quality cylinders in circulation.
Krishnanagar, May 26, 2025 – A brother and sister died after a gas leak from the regulator caught fire.
Kamalpokhari, February 6, 2025 – A restaurant blast killed four people. Police found that an empty LPG cylinder placed too close to a burning stove leaked gas, ignited, and exploded.

Globally, fire-related incidents kill 265,000 people every year, with South Asia accounting for nearly half. Nepal alone loses about 2,000 people annually due to fire hazards including LPG-related incidents.These tragedies remind us: We must understand LPG safety, because one mistake can cost lives.

Understanding LPG: Why It Can Be Dangerous

LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) contains propane or butane; highly flammable gases that are normally in gas form but become liquid when compressed. This liquid is stored in pressurized metallic cylinders we commonly use at home. Because LPG is naturally odorless, a pungent-smelling chemical is added so that leaks can be detected

How Cylinder Explosions Actually Happen (BLEVE)

One of the most dangerous types of explosions is BLEVE ( Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion). A BLEVE occurs when:

A cylinder is heated by external fire
The pressure rises
The metal weakens
The vessel bursts violently

The explosion releases a fireball, powerful heat, and sometimes rocket-like movement of the cylinder.

Other Types of LPG Accidents

Even without BLEVE, LPG can cause fatal hazards:

Other possible LPG hazards include:

Gas leak + ignition: Can ignite from a spark up to 11 meters away.
Jet fire: Gas burns like a torch with flames reaching 8 meters.
Fireball: Explosions can generate deadly heat within a 39-meter radius.

Are LPG Cylinders Safe in Nepal?

Design Safety

According to research by Charda Bhushan Yadav (2024), cylinders in Nepal generally have:

3× higher burst strength than Nepal Standards (NS)
5× higher pressure tolerance than normal working pressure

This means the design is safe.

Where the Problem Lies

The real danger is poor maintenance, neglect, and improper inspection:

Many bottling plants ignore safety protocols.
Cylinders are transported carelessly, causing dents and cracks.
Expiry dates are missing or erased.
Cylinders older than 20 years are still being circulated.
Mandatory hydraulic tests (every 10 years, then every 5 years) are often skipped.

This turns a safe product into a ticking bomb.

What Every Household Must Know: LPG Safety Rules

If You Smell Gas

❌ Do NOT operate electrical switches.

❌ Do NOT light matches or lighters.

✔️ Turn stove knobs OFF.

✔️ Turn regulator to OFF position immediately.

✔️ Open all windows and doors for ventilation.

✔️ If the smell remains, call your gas distributor or emergency services.

✔️ A trained person may detach the regulator and fix the safety cap.

Daily LPG Safety Habits That Save Lives

Avoid wearing nylon or synthetic clothes while cooking.
Never leave cooking unattended.
Only allow authorized technicians to repair or inspect your LPG system.
Avoid long curtains near the stove.
Ensure proper redelivery checks when receiving a new refill.
Never install the cylinder below ground level.
Keep all heating devices 1 meter away from the gas stove.
Do NOT cover rubber tubes or joints.
Always turn OFF the regulator after cooking.
Replace rubber tubes every 2 years or earlier if cracked.
Store no more than 2 cylinders in a room with at least 10 sq. meters floor area.
Keep cylinders away from sun, rain, dust, and heat sources.
Always check expiry date (A/B/C/D marking).
Refuse cylinders that look damaged.

Disconnecting the empty cylinder

Put out all the flames and fires including incense sticks, candle, lamp in the kitchen and adjoining rooms.
Close all the taps on the cooking stove.
Turn the switch knob of the regulator from ON position to OFF position.
Grip the regulator and pull the bush up and lift the regulator by giving a gentle swivel. Regulator will thus get detached from the valve on the cylinder.
Place the safety cap on the valve of the cylinder. Press the cap firmly down until a distinct click is heard. Now the empty cylinder can be removed.

Connecting the filled Cylinder

To remove the safety cap, press it down, PULL the cord and keeping it pulled, LIFT the cap off the valve of the cylinder.
Check whether sealing ring is in place inside the cylinder valve by feeling the same with the help of your little finger. Do not use the cylinder if the ring is missing, put back the safety cap and contact your distributor for replacement of cylinder.
To mount the regulator on the filled cylinder, carry out the following steps:
Ensure the switch knob of the regulator is in the OFF position.
Grip the regulator and pull up the plastic blush
Place the regulator vertically on the valve and press it down till its edge touches the hexagon of the valve on the cylinder with a gentle swivel. Release the black plastic bush and then press it down.
The pressure regulator is now locked on the cylinder.

References

https://kathmandupost.com/valley/2025/02/17/gas-explosion-exposes-lack-of-safety-measures-in-kathmandu-s-restaurants
https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/62528
https://english.onlinekhabar.com/nepal-cooking-gas-cylinder-explosion.html
Chondrou, D. T., Chondrou, I. T., Panteliou, S. D., & Chondros, T. G. (2019). Household LPG cylinder fracture and a boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion. Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, 9(714), 54–66. https://doi.org/10.18698/0536-1044-2019-9-54-66
eheshti, M. H., Farhang Dehghan, S., Hajizadeh, R., Jafari, S. M., & Koohpaei, A. (2020). Modelling the consequences of explosion, fire and gas leakage in domestic cylinders containing LPG. Journal of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering
Yadav, C. B. (2024). Burst strength analysis of an LPG cylinder using experiment data and numerical simulation [Master’s thesis, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Lalitpur, Nepal]

Author : Sujan Gurung is a Research Associate at BolteK Enterprise. He is researching on current fire-protection practices in Nepal , understanding standards and codes. Boltek Enterprise provides quality fire systems design and installation, fire extinguishers, safety equipment, and professional fire safety training across Nepal. Learn more at www.boltekenterprise.com.np.