Residents forced to evacuate from their homes following a fatal explosion in which a four-year-old girl died have claimed that the local gas provider “has blood on their hands”.
Sahara Salman was killed and two others remain in hospital after the blast, which happened in Thornton Heath shortly after 7am on Monday. At a community meeting in South Lodge Avenue, Mitcham, residents said that at least 18 calls were made from Galpin’s Road, where the blast took place, to gas firm SGN about the smell of gas in the days and weeks leading up to the explosion.
Martin Holloway, executive operations director for SGN, told some 100 residents in the local community centre the firm was “shocked and saddened” about the death of Sahara. Mr Holloway said: “We send our sincere condolences to her family and the other residents who’ve been injured and affected are absolutely in our thoughts. We really understand the impact that this has had on the local community and we’ve been here on the ground this week working with Merton Council to provide support and assistance.
