Sukhwinder Kandhola, an Indian-origin gas station owner in Canada, said he faced a racist attack after unknowingly selling contaminated gas, which left at least 18 cars damaged. (Photo: CTV News)

Sukhwinder Kandhola, an Indian-origin gas station owner in Ontario, said he is facing attacks after contaminated fuel was sold from his Esso gas station. “We didn’t do it intentionally. Some people are spreading this misinformation, which is not correct. It just happened. We still don’t know why this happened. And how did water mix with gas? The engineering company is trying to figure it out,” he told CTV News. “Some people are trying to defame us and are going on social media and making wrong comments,” Kandhola said. “It’s taking a toll on our mental health. Our kids are reading those comments. We’re part of this community. We have been here for eight years.”On the evening of March 23, some customers came to him complaining that they had taken gas from his station and their cars were no longer starting. He said he called technicians for inspection and they found there was water. The Technical Standards and Safety Authority closed the gas station until the problem was resolved. Lindsay Fitzgerald, one of the customers whose car was affected by the contaminated gas taken from Kandhola’s station, told CTV News that her two-year-old Subaru would not start after refueling. The mechanic he called told him that there was more than 50 percent water in the tank. The water was drained and there was no damage to the car. According to Kandhola, 18 vehicles have been affected and he has contacted those affected to let them know that their insurance company is involved and will contact them in the near future.“We don’t want to lose our customers,” Kandhola said. “We’re really relying on these local people. They’re our bread and butter in the winter time, especially when things slow down.”