One person had received grave injuries and severe damage was caused to a house as an outcome of the blast.

The District Consumer Forum, while deciding on the complaint, directed that Rs 3,48,167 would have to be paid to the victims along with interest at the rate of 9 per cent per annum, with effect from the date of filing of the complaint on March 22, 2006.

The amount so awarded would have to be paid within 45 days and the litigation cost of Rs 2,500 would also have to be borne by the Indian Oil and HP Civil Supplies Corporation.

The complainants — Pyare Lal and Kundan Lal — had pleaded before the District Consumer Forum that after booking, a cylinder of Indian Oil was supplied to them in October 2005 from the Rohru depot of HP Civil Supplies Corporation.

The cylinder was damaged and when put to use, gas leaked from it, resulting in an immediate blast. Pyare Lal received grievous injuries due to the blast, which had an impact of such high intensity that the third and top floor of their house was damaged. The complainants have claimed that a loss of nearly Rs 5 lakh was caused to their house.