PNG line tampered in Bareilly, 2 booked; 30,000 at risk

Meerut: Nearly 30,000 residents were put at risk after a piped natural gas (PNG) line was illegally tapped in Bareilly’s densely populated Peer Bahora locality in Izzatnagar.The accused, Mohammad Safaruddin (37) and Mohammad Mustab Khan (36), allegedly cut a main PNG line and bypassed the regulator using plastic pipes to secure unauthorised connections. Officials said even a small spark could have triggered a major explosion in the area.On April 11, a Central UP Gas Ltd (CUGL) patrolling team noticed damage to pipeline infrastructure in the locality. When the team tried to record video, the accused allegedly turned violent, attacked the workers and attempted to snatch their mobile phones. A complaint was filed on April 28 after efforts to resolve the issue failed.In his complaint, CUGL senior manager Jitender Gautam said, “Bypassing such regulators requires specialised technical knowledge. The locality has narrow lanes, and in case of an explosion, it would be difficult for fire tenders to reach the spot.”District magistrate Avinash Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry.SSP Anurag Arya said, "A case has been registered against the two accused under Section 15 of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962. Both accused are at large."CUGL has also initiated a safety audit in congested residential areas across the city.