Bilkent Loses Osman Altan, February 15
During an explosion in the security gate booth located at the East Campus entrance 2 on Tuesday, February 15 at 11:15 p.m., a member of the Bilkent University security staff was fatally injured.
The security officer, Mr. Osman Altan, was rushed to Numune Hospital with very serious burns. Unfortunately, Mr. Altan eventually succumbed to his injuries and passed away on Thursday, February 17 at the hospital where he was being treated.
Based on the initial observations, a natural gas leak seems to have originated from the cracked valve in the main underground gas pipeline located across from the East Campus security gate on İhsan Doğramacı Boulevard. Due to high pressure, gas went through the tunnel passing by the cables and accumulated in the security booth. Then, it appears that a spark in the security booth led to the explosion. The gas company was notified before the incident about the suspected gas leak across the street, however the explosion took place before they intervened.
Mr. Altan was born in Yozgat in 1965. He worked as a security staff at Bilkent University from 1991 until his untimely death. He is survived by his wife and two children aged 16 and 20.
Funeral services for Mr. Altan were held on Friday, February 18 at Sincan Cimşit Cemetery.
We wish to extend our sincere condolences to his family and to the Bilkent community.