Pay kin of woman killed in cylinder explosion Rs 12 lakh: NCDRC to IOCL

New Delhi: Apex consumer commission NCDRC has directed IOCL and its dealer to pay over Rs 12 lakh compensation to the next of kin of a woman who died in a cylinder explosion, saying the accident occurred due to manufacturing defect.

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) held IOCL and Alok Gas Agency liable for the gas cylinder explosion which claimed the life of Neena Jhamb, a housewife, and seriously injured her mother-in-law.

The commission said the onus was on Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) to conduct inquiry into the defect as there was no evidence of negligence by the consumer.

"There is no documentary evidence brought on record that there was any remote contributory negligence on behalf of the consumer.

"Being the manufacturer the onus shifts to IOCL to conduct an enquiry and report on the defect, if any or cause of the blast, which has not been done and, therefore, the submission of IOCL that there was no report of manufacturing defect, cannot be accepted," the commission said in a recent order.

"For all the afore-noted reasons we hold both the IOCL and the dealer liable. We hold that as the material on record evidences that the blast was caused by a manufacturing defect in the cylinder, IOCL is principally liable," NCDRC President R K Agrawal and member M Shreesha

said.