Bahawalpur oil tanker tragedy resulted from lit cigarette, Senate committee told

ISLAMABAD: The Bahawalpur oil tanker tragedy, in which more than 200 people were burnt to death on June 25, resulted from a lit cigarette, while the vehicle's explosive license was also fake, officials told Senate's Standing Committee on Petroleum Monday.

On June 25, over 200 people were charred to death when an oil tanker, which overturned earlier, exploded near Ahmed Pur East tehsil in Bahawalpur district. The deceased included villagers and passers-by, who attempted to collect oil leaking from the tanker.

Senator Mir Israrullah Zehri presided over meeting of the Standing Committee on Petroleum, wherein officials from Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) briefed members on Bahawalpur tragedy.

OGRA Chairperson Uzma Adil told that the oil company responsible for the tragic incident has been fined Rs10 million, adding that a total of 11,704 oil tankers in the country meet the standards.

She said that their teams would inspect all vehicles being used for transportation of fuel, however, added that oil tankers' owners are likely to raise hue and cry over authorities' action.

During the meeting, Senator Fateh Muhammad Hasni lamented, "Around 200 people were burnt to death and the company responsible for the incident got off paying Rs10 million only".

Senator Rubina Irfan said that imposing fine was not enough and the concerned company should be closed.