Visakhapatnam: After a year-long battle, the husband and children of a 25-year-old woman who died of burns caused following an LPG cylinder leak won their case against the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-II in Vizag has directed the HPCL and HP gas dealer to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family members of the victim, Ms Undabhatla Santhoshi, for supplying a defective cylinder.
In April 12, 2017, Ms Santhoshi received grievous burn injuries when she attempted to light a gas stove at her home in Vizag. She died of burn injuries on April 13, 2017 at KH Hospital in the city. The police registered a case under Section 174 of CrPC (Unnatural Death). Ms Santhoshi's husband Mr U. Kanna Rao and her children approached the consumer forum against the regional manager of HPCL, Vizag and HP Gas dealer Bheemili P.V. Ramana for compensation citing that Santhoshi died due to the defective cylinder. The forum, led by its president H. Ananda Rao and member Ms K. Saroja, asked the HPCL and another party to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family.
