A New Jersey gas station in Camden has been closed for the second time in two months due to contaminated gasoline causing multiple motorists to break down. City officials received numerous complaints regarding fuel contamination at the Conoco gas station on Admiral Wilson Boulevard, likely from rainwater seeping into underground storage tanks, affecting up to 16 drivers over the weekend. The closure was initiated by the city’s division of Licenses and Inspections, with requirements including fines, inspections, and compliance with city, county, and state regulations before reopening.
Authorities are investigating how water entered the tanks, suspecting a faulty seal or cap as the cause, with sump pumps failing to activate during heavy rainfall and alarms not functioning properly to prevent water infiltration. Surveillance footage is being reviewed to understand why the system failed and identify impacted individuals. The gas station’s owner, Raghbir Singh, and operator, Rajvinder Ghotra, are responsible for resolving the issue, with a remediation timeline yet to be determined, amid calls for increased inspections following repeated violations. Ghotra, who previously faced fines and summonses for similar infractions in January, did not appear in court but faces upcoming legal proceedings related to the incidents, with additional penalties pending if water is found in recent fuel samples.
