Thornton Heath: Minister expresses sorrow over fatal gas explosion

Sahara Salman died following the explosion in Galpin's Road, Thornton Heath

A government minister has said he was "very sorry for the awful" gas explosion which killed a four-year-old girl at a home in south London.

Sahara Salman died when a house on Galpin's Road, Thornton Heath, collapsed in August.

Three people were seriously injured, including an 11-year-old boy and a 54-year-old woman.

Housing Minister Lee Rowley said he was very sorry for the challenges the residents had faced.

Mr Rowley made the comments in Parliament during an adjournment debate called for by the area's local MP, Siobhain McDonagh.

Hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes for days while the leak was fixed following the explosion on 8 August. Many have not been able to return home.

"There is sadness and difficulty behind every door along the road and there is no question that every family has faced the most challenging few months," said Ms McDonagh.

• Fatal gas explosion residents to return home

• Residents voice anger after fatal gas explosion

• Girl killed as suspected gas blast destroys house

One house was completely destroyed by the explosion, while two neighbouring terraced homes suffered extensive damage and several more had smashed windows.

Other houses on Galpin's Road were also damaged in the blast

After the house collapsed, residents said they had made at least 18 calls to report gas smells in the days before it happened.

During the session, Ms McDonagh read out a statement from Sahara's mother Sana Ahmed who said she had called Southern Gas Networks (SGN) on 30 July about the gas.

"I am the one who lost my beloved daughter. I called that number and I've been sentenced to life," she said.

The statement continued: "The children and I still sleep on the floor; as if my children and I have not been through enough.

"Why have we not been offered housing because at this stage, I'm getting sick and tired of hearing week after week that the police are doing their job and that the investigation continues. I need answers, not excuses."

Mr Rowley replied that the ongoing investigation by the Met Police and Health and Safety Executive meant he was limited in what he could say, but added that, broadly speaking, companies involved in the transmission of gas must comply with the gas safety regulations.

Engineers from Southern Gas Networks worked to fix the leak

Mr Rowley said he would also speak to the minister for local government about the speed of the gas replacement project which aims to replace old and deteriorating metal pipes with plastic ones.

Ms McDonagh told Parliament she had written to the government four days after the explosion asking for financial help for those that had fled their homes on behalf of Merton Council however she did not receive a response until seven weeks later.

"When a tragedy like this happens, the local council is left on their own," she said.

"Why isn't government support immediately offered and who should pick up the support bill?"

She added some residents had expressed concerns they had been presented with large insurance fees and were worried about large premiums in the future through no fault of their own.

In response, Mr Rowley said he would "expect every insurance company to put their customers first.

"It will be very clear which companies do and which companies do not, and we will be watching."

He added: "The community pulled together in the aftermath of this explosion but it is time for action.

"The community do want answers why this happened, could it have been prevented, and how can we stop a tragedy like this happening again."

Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail]