Lok Sabha Question No. 82 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-01-29
Subject: Gas Tanker Tragedy at Bhankrota in Jaipur, Rajasthan
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri Hanuman Beniwal

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 82 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 th  January, 2026

## Gas Tanker Tragedy at Bhankrota in Jaipur, Rajasthan

## †82. Shri Hanuman Beniwal:

## पेट Ō ोिलयम एवं Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any inquiry into the gas tanker tragedy that occurred in the year 2024 at Bhankrota in Jaipur, Rajasthan, if so, the details thereof ;
- (b) whether any culpability has been established in the said inquiry and, if so, the details of the action taken so far against persons found responsible; and
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  conducting  any  special  inquiry  into  the  safety licences allegedly issued through fraudulent means by companies/institutions for tankers used for transportation of LPG, other gases and petroleum product, so as to prevent recurrence of such accidents and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## पेट Ō ोिलयम एवं Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũालय मŐ राǛमंũी ( ŵी सुरे श गोपी )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

(a)  to  (c)  :  A  LPG  Tank  Truck  (TT)  accident  occurred  on  20.12.2024  on  the  Jaipur-AjmerKishangarh-Bhankrota Highway involving a BPCL's LPG bulk carrier. The TT was attempting a U-turn at a junction when it was hit from behind by a truck. The collision resulted in damage to the  tanker  outlet/nozzle,  leading  to  leakage  of  LPG  and  a  subsequent  fire/explosion,  which affected multiple vehicles on the highway.

Hon'ble  Rajasthan  High  Court  took  suomotu  cognizance  of  the  matter  and  vide  order  dated 21.12.2024 in its Civil Writ Petition(C.W.P.) - 19781/2024 issued notices to various Government Authorities including Government of Rajasthan. The Court emphasised the need for a detailed investigation  and  pointed  out  that  disaster  management  laws  and  safety  policies  must  be effectively implemented.

Investigation  into  the  accident,  including  determination  of  culpability  and  initiation  of  penal action,  is  undertaken  by  the  State  authorities  as  per  the  extant  legal  framework.  As  per information  made  available  by  the  Government  of  Rajasthan,  a  case  bearing  No.  462/24  was registered on 20.12.2024 under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Motor Vehicles (MV) Act. As  per  the  said  information,  upon  completion  of  investigation,  charge-sheet  bearing  No. 122/2025 was filed on 28.08.2025 under the aforesaid provisions of the BNS and the MV Act and  a  challan  has  been  presented  before  the  Court  of  the  learned  Additional  Civil  Judge  and Judicial Magistrate, Jaipur Metropolitan-II, on 20.09.2025.

The  State  Government  has  further  informed  that,  with  regard  to  the  alleged  violations  of  the Motor Vehicles  Rules  reported  by  the  Institute  of  Road  Traffic  Education  (IRTE)  against  the concerned  road  authorities,  contractors,  consultants  and  concessionaires,  further  investigation under Section 193(9) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has been initiated.

With  regard  to  measures  taken  to  prevent  reoccurrence  of  such  accident,  Oil  Marketing Companies (OMCs) have informed that they adhere to and comply with rules/regulations/guidelines/  standards  for  LPG  storage,  handling,  and  transportation  issued  by the  Petroleum  and  Explosives  Safety  Organization  (PESO),  Oil  Industry  Safety  Directorate (OISD), Petroleum Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) and all other statutory authorities including the following:

1. LPG tankers are allowed to transport bulk LPG only after obtaining a license from the Petroleum  and  Explosives  Safety  Organisation  (PESO)  under  the  Static  &  Mobile Pressure Vessels (Unfired) Rules, 2016.
2. PESO grants the license for transportation of compressed gas in a pressure vessel by  a vehicle only after verifying that the vehicle possesses:
3. (a) Registration and fitness certificate issued by the Road Transport Authority (RTA);
4. (b) Fabrication drawings of the pressure vessel approved by a PESO-empanelled Competent Person;
5. (c) Test certificates of safety relief valves and hydro test of the pressure vessel issued by a PESO-empanelled Competent Person;
6. (d) An undertaking from the vehicle owner and approved fabricator stating that the vehicle conforms to all provisions of the SMPV (Unfired) Rules, 2016.
3. Further, workshops engaged in the fabrication of LPG pressure vessels and tanker fittings are also required to be approved by PESO.

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