KARACHI: A local court has held Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) responsible for negligence in a 2022 gas explosion case in Orangi Town’s Millat Colony that resulted in the deaths of two people, and ordered the company to pay Rs30 million in compensation to the affected family.
The verdict was announced by a Karachi West civil court in a case filed by the daughter of the deceased, who died after a gas leak inside their home triggered an explosion in October 2022.
The petitioner’s lawyer argued that repeated complaints about gas leakage in the area were ignored, and the utility company failed to repair a faulty line, which ultimately led to the fatal incident.
SSGC, however, denied responsibility, claiming there was no leakage from its system and arguing that the plaintiff was not its registered consumer.
During proceedings, the court observed that evidence presented in the case supported the claim of gas leakage and noted that the company had failed to take adequate preventive measures.
The court ruled that gas distribution companies are legally bound to ensure public safety and held that negligence in fulfilling this duty resulted in loss of life.
Accepting the claim under the Fatal Accidents Act, the court directed SSGC to pay Rs15 million for each of the two victims, ordering total compensation of Rs30 million to be paid within one month.
