Ogra urges provincial govts, CNG associations to ensure safety standards in vehicles

ISLAMABAD: In the wake of a cylinder explosion in a van, which claimed 10 precious lives, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) said that to avoid accidents in vehicles running on roads, it takes all the necessary measures to avert such incidents.

In a statement, Ogra clarified that in coordination with the local governments, explosives department and other relevant departments, Ogra enforces the safety standards by conducting rigorous inspections through designated third party inspectors, to the extent of CNG stations, to ensure protection of the public, at large.

Further the CNG department of the regulatory authority has time and again informed the chief secretaries, as well as issued instructions to the CNG associations regarding compliance of the CNG Rules, 1992/Standard Code of Practice to avoid accidents and loss of lives.

It is emphasised to ensure compliance of the CNG refuelling procedure, while filling the vehicles and only those vehicles get refueled, which meet the requirements of the CNG Rules 1992 (CNG cylinders, kits and fittings are thoroughly checked/inspected/re-tested and stamped/marked by the authority concerned, i.e., HDIP or any quarter authorised by HDIP, CNG cylinder in use or being refuelled is of approved standard/brand/within the periodic hydro-test life, that there are no obvious leaks in the vehicle’s CNG system/equipment and all types of gauges are calibrated and working accurately and the vehicle is not using multiple fuels, i.e., CNG and LPG, at the same time, along with the valid fitness certificates from the Regional Transport Authority.

Further, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has issued letter dated July 17, 2019 regarding a ban of CNG/LPG cylinders inside the passengers’ compartments of Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) and advised the provincial transport authorities to rigorously enforce its law and ensure removal of the CNG cylinders from inside the Public Service Vehicles running on roads along with the cancellation of route permits if found in violation.

However, the letter was challenged in various courts and the issue is still sub judice in various courts.

In Gujranwala road accident 10 passengers were burnt to death when a van was hit by a mini-truck from behind and, as a result, the gas cylinder of the van exploded.

Among the deceased women and children were also included. A few passengers are still in critical condition because of severe burn injuries.

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