Rat attack: Rodents blamed for gas shut-off

Technicians have blamed rats for the shutdown of gas supply to some houses at Discovery Gardens in Jebel Ali on Monday.

Technicians of Lootah DC Gas found the wires that control the valves were nibbled away by what they believe are rodents.

"It's a wiring problem that caused the gas valves to automatically shut down," said an Indian technician.

Cooking gas is supplied from cylinders placed in cages outside the buildings. Flow is regulated by electronically-controlled valves.

Talal M., a Lebanese resident, said: "I invited friends over for my birthday dinner. I prepared the dough before putting it in the oven but when I started the oven all it gave me was a flicker and then nothing. It's a new building and I didn't expect this to happen."

A similar incident happened on October 28 when gas supply was cut off for a day, according to Nooshin, an Iranian resident.

She said the fire alarm had also been sounding on and off for about a week before the glitch was fixed.