The potential threat of running vehicles on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) emerged stronger when a couple based at Makrana tehsil in Nagaur district sustained over 70% burn injuries as their car caught fire on Saturday night.
Rameshwar, 35 and his wife Genda Devi, 30 were returning home in Bidiyad Kola Dungari village after attending a ceremony in a nearby village when the accident occurred. Police said locals rescued them from the car that caught fire due to LPG leak and rushed them to a hospital in Makrana. They ar currently admitted to Jawahar Lal Nehru hospital.
Nagaur has no LPG pump but cars and school vans run on the fuel with impunity. The district transport authorities are clueless about how many vehicles have been given no-objection certificates (NOC)by the state transport department.
“No one checks on the movement of vans running on LPG, carrying school children. They are moving bombs,” said activist Gajanand Sharma. Alleging that motor garages and mechanics illegally fit illegal LPG units in vehicles, Sharma added that the district supply office, transport department and petroleum companies are ignoring a dangerous crisis.
High degree of safety needs to be maintained to store LPG in cylinders and fit them into vehicles. Apart from damaging valves of vehicles, this fuel poses threats for cars running on rugged terrains.
{{/usCountry}}High degree of safety needs to be maintained to store LPG in cylinders and fit them into vehicles. Apart from damaging valves of vehicles, this fuel poses threats for cars running on rugged terrains.
{{/usCountry}}Nagaur district supply officer Shelendra Dewara said, “To my knowledge, there is no such petrol pump in the district. Let me confirm from petroleum companies about chances of allotting any such pump in the district.”
When asked the reason behind the transport department issuing NOCs to LPG-run vehicles despite absence of LPG pumps in Nagaur, Didwana district transport officer Ramesh Vaishnav said he is ignorant about the issue. Petroleum company officials refused to comment despite repeated attempts.