Aug. 22: Help for emergencies related to LPG cylinders is now just a phone call away.

The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has launched a call centre here to help the consumers in case of cylinder leakage.

Two helpline numbers have been set up to assist consumers on how to avert a fire mishap in case of cylinder leakage.

If required, they send technicians to repair the cylinder.

The 24-hour call centre was opened recently for the consumers across the state, but it focuses on four lakh cooking gas consumers in the city.

“In case a leakage is detected, one should not make phone calls near the cylinder. Instead they should first try to put on the safety cap. If that does not help, they should open the doors and windows immediately and should never switch on a light. They should take the cylinder to a safer place and then call us. Our call centre executives will immediately suggest what they should do and if required they will contact the nearest gas distributors and send technicians to repair the leakage free of cost,” an official of the corporation said.

The corporation has asked all its distributors to keep a team of technicians ready at all times and assist them as early as possible to avert any disaster.

Once a customer calls for help, the call centre executives take their identity number and address and accordingly, contact the nearest distributors.

“The call centre has been opened, as most of the fire disasters in the city are a result of LPG leakage. People normally get nervous when they detect a leakage and take irresponsible steps like making calls, which may trigger a fire. They should not switch on or switch off lights either,” the official said.

“The consumers should also take proper care of the gas installation, as leakage may occur in pipes, regulator and the hotplate. They should use the equipment approved by the IOC and conduct proper checks from time to time. If they use electronic cooking wares, they should also take every safety measure,” the official said.

However, the threat remains, as the city has many consumers who use cooking gas without proper registration and are buying cylinders from the black market.

“Opening of the call centre is a good initiative but there are many people who do not possess the consumer cards and buy the cylinder from the black market. If we really want to take safety measures, the IOC must ensure that LPG cylinders are not sold in the black market by the distributors,” Ajoy Hazarika of Consumer Legal Protection Forum, a city-based NGO, said.