**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 82 in Lok Sabha regarding a gas tanker tragedy in Bhankrota, Jaipur, Rajasthan on December 20, 2024. It outlines the government's response, including investigations into the accident, establishment of culpability, and measures to prevent future occurrences. The Rajasthan High Court is involved and has emphasized the need for detailed investigations and effective implementation of disaster management laws and safety policies. The question was to be answered on January 29th, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Accident Details:** An LPG Tank Truck accident occurred on December 20, 2024, in Bhankrota, Jaipur, involving a BPCL LPG bulk carrier. The accident was caused by a truck hitting the tanker from behind during a U-turn, leading to leakage, fire, and explosion.
* **Investigation and Legal Actions:**
* The State authorities are investigating the accident to determine culpability and initiate penal action.
* A case was registered on December 20, 2024, under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Motor Vehicles (MV) Act.
* A charge sheet was filed on August 28, 2025, under BNS and MV Act, and a challan was presented before the court on September 20, 2025.
* Further investigation under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has been initiated regarding alleged violations of Motor Vehicles Rules.
* **Preventive Measures:**
* Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) must adhere to regulations and guidelines for LPG storage, handling, and transportation issued by PESO, OISD, and PNGRB.
* LPG tankers are allowed to transport bulk LPG only after obtaining a license from PESO under the Static & Mobile Pressure Vessels (Unfired) Rules, 2016.
* PESO grants licenses only after verifying the vehicle possesses the following:
* Registration and fitness certificate from the Road Transport Authority (RTA).
* Approved fabrication drawings of the pressure vessel by a PESO-empanelled Competent Person.
* Test certificates of safety relief valves and hydro test by a PESO-empanelled Competent Person.
* An undertaking from the vehicle owner and fabricator confirming compliance with SMPV (Unfired) Rules, 2016.
* Workshops fabricating LPG pressure vessels and tanker fittings must be approved by PESO.
**Impact Analysis**
**BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited)**
* **Impact:** BPCL's reputation and operations are affected due to the accident involving its LPG bulk carrier. Potential changes in practices and monitoring to reduce chances of future incidents.
* **Action Required:** BPCL must ensure adherence to all safety regulations and guidelines to prevent future incidents, including potential upgrades in safety standards for its vehicles and procedures.
**Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs)**
* **Impact:** Increased scrutiny on adherence to safety standards and regulations.
* **Action Required:** OMCs must ensure strict compliance with existing regulations and guidelines, and potentially update practices to meet stricter safety measures.
**State Government of Rajasthan**
* **Impact:** Responsibility for investigation, legal proceedings, and ensuring effective implementation of disaster management laws and safety policies.
* **Action Required:** Continue investigation, ensure fair legal proceedings, implement necessary changes to disaster management and safety policies, and coordinate with relevant authorities.
**Road Authorities, Contractors, Consultants, and Concessionaires**
* **Impact:** Investigation into alleged violations of Motor Vehicles Rules.
* **Action Required:** Cooperate with the investigation under Section 193(9) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and address any identified issues.
**Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO)**
* **Impact:** Increased responsibility for enforcing safety regulations and licensing for LPG transportation.
* **Action Required:** Strengthen verification processes for granting licenses, ensure compliance with SMPV (Unfired) Rules, and approve workshops fabricating LPG pressure vessels and tanker fittings.
**PESO-empanelled Competent Persons**
* **Impact:** Increased responsibility for oversight of drawings, test certificates, and hydro tests.
* **Action Required:** Enforce higher standards for compliance with SMPV (Unfired) Rules.
Key Entities Referenced
Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO): Regulates safety standards for LPG storage, handling, and transportation, issues licenses for LPG tankers under the Static & Mobile Pressure Vessels (Unfired) Rules.
Jaipur, Rajasthan: Location of the gas tanker tragedy at Bhankrota that is the subject of the parliamentary question.
Static & Mobile Pressure Vessels (Unfired) Rules, 2016: Rules under which PESO grants licenses for LPG tankers.
LPG Tank Truck (TT) accident: The gas tanker tragedy at Bhankrota in Jaipur, Rajasthan, involving an LPG tanker.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): Under which the case bearing No. 462/24 was registered and charge sheet filed.
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 82
TO BE ANSWERED ON 29th January, 2026
Gas Tanker Tragedy at Bhankrota in Jaipur, Rajasthan
†82. Shri Hanuman Beniwal:
पेट(cid:332)ोिलयम एवं (cid:366)ाकृ ितक गैस मं(cid:361)ी
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(cid:332)ोिलयम एवं (cid:366)ाकृ ितक गैस मं(cid:361)ालय म(cid:336) रा(cid:475)मं(cid:361)ी
((cid:373)ी सुरेश 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–Ajmer–
Kishangarh–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:
(a) Registration and fitness certificate issued by the Road Transport Authority (RTA);
(b) Fabrication drawings of the pressure vessel approved by a PESO-empanelled Competent
Person;
(c) Test certificates of safety relief valves and hydro test of the pressure vessel issued by a
PESO-empanelled Competent Person;
(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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