INDIA: Fire continues to rage in Indian fuel depot in north-western Rajasthan state.

Record ID: 1374206

  • Title: INDIA: Fire continues to rage in Indian fuel depot in north-western Rajasthan state.
  • Date: 31st October 2009
  • Summary: THICK SMOKE GRIEVING WOMAN
  • Embargoed: 15th November 2009 08:36
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVACNDG0QDPI2HHUX0VXXDQDDBWP
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: At least 13 people are dead, about 200 are injured. The army has been called to control the raging fire at Indian Oil Corporation fuel depot on the outskirts of Jaipur in north western Rajasthan state.
    At least 13 people are dead, about 200 are injured, as result of raging fire at Indian Oil Corporation fuel depot on the outskirts of Jaipur in north-western Rajasthan state. The army was called to help in rescue operations.
    The blaze started at the depot in Sitapura industrial area around 7.30 pm (1400 GMT) on Thursday (October 29) and quickly spread to some adjoining industrial units, with massive flames rising from the area.
    Two villages near the depot were evacuated and power was cut off across the region as a precautionary measure.
    Most of the injured were being taken to the three main hospitals in the city and at the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital most of the injured were blast victims with splinters.
    Provincial Health Minister Aimdaduddin Ahmad Khan had confirmed on Thursday that three people had died and nearly 100 were injured, with numbers likely to increase.
    "The latest information that we have is about 20 in Sawai Man Singh (hospital), about 15 in Fortis (hospital) and 50 in Mahatma Gandhi. That is the closer hospital to the place of fire. All precautions have been taken, people have been evacuated from nearby houses and areas. We will know only if there have been some casualties which have not been discovered when the fire is completely doused and under control," said Khan.
    Army has been called for the rescue operation in adjoining areas where oil depot is based. So far there are no signs of fires being contained till Friday morning.
    The blaze continues to spread in the nearby houses on Friday, Indian televisions media reported.
    India's Petroleum Minister, Murli Deora reached the fire site on Friday morning and told reporters that an enquiry committee will be formed to find the cause behind the mishap.
    "An enquiry committee will be formed who will investigate and find out the reason behind the mishap. You rightly said that such mishaps should not happen in future. When enquiry committee will be formed we'll make sure to adopt such measures, but we can't speak on the enquiry committee result right now, before they know the problem. (Ques: What would be your Main strategy to tackle the fir?) You can't do anything. We can't reach there. So it has to die down," said Deora.
    Deora would be visiting all the hospitals and meet the victims.
    "If they want anything for the hospital- A, B- some compensation to the families of the people who died, 3 - those who are sick in the hospital, that is the most important. Those who have died have died, but those who are admitted in three hospitals �������We are going toe all the three hospitals and whatever is their requirement we will fulfil it and we will announce their compensation as well," he said.
    Deora had announced compensation of half a million rupees to 1 million rupees to the victims and their families.
    In-house teams of Indian Oil and teams from outside Jaipur are also involved in containing the fire.
    "All measures are being taken to douse the fire, Indian Oil's in-house team are here and there from outside Mathura, Panipat as well are here and are taking all measures to control the fire," said B. L Soni, Inspector General, Jaipur.
    Meanwhile, two bodies blown away during the explosion were seen lying on the ground near the fire site.
    All four containers in the depot have exploded. Several ambulances and fire fighting vehicles were rushed to the spot to contain the fire.
    Though officials have not commented on the reason of fire, locals said a cracker burst sparked the fire. The depot contains about nine million litres of fuel products.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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