According to media news, a gas cylinder of a bus exploded at a gas station in Karachi that killed several people while several other vehicles also caught fire during the incident. Due to an increase in fuel prices, people are using CNG as an alternate of fuel because of price difference. Not only cars but buses, mini buses and commercial vehicles are using CNG as an alternative to petrol and diesel. But the reality is that due to poor safety standard, negligence of general public and weak laws, several explosions of gas cylinders have happened.
According to government and OGRA safety standards, after every five years the CNG kit owners must check condition of their CNG cylinders but only a few are following government instructions. Cheap substandard gas kits all are also available in the market. Cost of second hand CNG kit is only 15,000 rupees which is easily available. Only a few days ago, Egypt’s transport minister resigned after killing of several school children when a train crushed their school bus but unfortunately in our country there is no accountability culture.
KHAWAJA UMER FAROOQ
Karachi