SSGC to appeal court ruling holding utility liable for fatal Orangi Town gas explosion

The Sui Southern Gas Company on Wednesday announced plans to challenge a civil court ruling that held it responsible for a fatal gas explosion at a residential property in Karachi’s Orangi Town, which claimed the lives of a husband and wife and left their children with burn injuries.

In a clarification issued after the judgment, the utility reiterated its position that no gas connection had ever been provided to the premises where the incident occurred, arguing that it could not be held liable for any alleged leakage in the absence of gas supply to the location.

The court, however, allowed the claims filed against the company and held it liable for negligence in connection with the 2022 explosion. Earlier, the civil court had directed the utility to pay Rs30 million in compensation to the children of the deceased couple.

The legal action was initiated by the daughter of the victims, who filed two identical lawsuits through her counsel before a Senior Civil Judge (West) under the Fatal Accidents Act, 1855, seeking recovery of damages totaling Rs50 million over the deaths of her parents.

According to the company, the lawsuits arose from an incident in which a gas explosion at a residential premises resulted in fatalities and injuries, prompting claims of negligence against the utility.

Following the adverse ruling, SSGC said it would exercise its legal right to file an appeal before the district court, signaling the continuation of litigation in the case.