SSGC explains strong gas smell in Karachi
The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) on Sunday clarified that the strong gas smell reported in several parts of Karachi, including areas near Abul Hasan Isphahani Road, did not result from a gas leak.
The company said residents began reporting the unusual smell on Saturday night, raising concerns about a possible leak. However, SSGC explained that the smell came from the testing of odourisation plants during the commissioning process of a newly installed gas pipeline.
According to the company, natural gas has no smell of its own. Gas distribution companies add special odorants to the supply as a safety measure so that consumers can quickly detect a potential leak. During the testing process, SSGC added a larger-than-usual quantity of the odorant, which caused the gas to produce a much stronger smell than normal.
The unusual odour prompted people from different parts of Karachi to report what they believed could be a gas leak. SSGC, however, said its teams found no evidence of any leak and confirmed that the gas network was operating at normal pressure.
In a media alert issued on Sunday, the company urged customers not to panic and said they could continue with their routine activities. SSGC also reassured consumers that the strong smell resulted solely from the increased amount of odorant used during the testing of the new odourisation facilities.
Gas leaks can pose serious risks to public safety. Accumulated gas can cause fires and explosions, while inhaling high concentrations in enclosed spaces can lead to suffocation and death. Authorities regularly advise consumers to take immediate precautions if they detect an unusual gas smell and to report suspected leaks to the relevant gas utility.
The latest clarification comes months after a tragic gas leak incident in Rawalpindi. In January, three women died from suffocation while another woman fainted after a gas leak in an apartment in Bahria Town Phase VII.
SSGC’s clarification aims to reassure Karachi residents that the strong smell reported in the city was linked to the testing of its odourisation system rather than an actual gas leak.
