Deora visits IOC Depot fire site near Jaipur ; installation fire contained

The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Murli Deora left Delhi early morning today to visit the site of fire at the IOC’s Depot near Jaipur. Accompanied by Chairman IOC and the senior officers of the Ministry, he went straight to the site on arrival at Jaipur Airport. While inspecting the site he was informed that the fire has been contained to the installation area which is on fire and is expected to burn out the fuels slowly. In keeping with his directions yesterday night, IOC has rushed the firefighting teams from Delhi, Panipat and Mathura while ONGC has sent its team from Hazira.

The Minister also visited Sawai Man Singh Hospital and enquired about the condition of those injured. He complimented the State Government and the Chief Minister for providing adequate medical facilities and care to the injured and appreciated the maintenance of the Hospital.

Shri Deora announced an ex-gratia payment by IOC ranging from Rs10 lakh each in case of death, Rs 2 lakh each for those who are seriously injured and Rs one lakh each for those who have received minor injuries. This is in addition to the compensation that has been announced by the State Government. In the fire accident, three persons have lost their lives and five persons with serious injuries and forty persons with minor injuries are getting treatment in hospitals. Six employees of Indian Oil are missing.

Later Shri Deora held a meeting with the Chief Minister and assured him that there will be no shortage of petroleum products in the city or elsewhere due to this accident. This will be done by working additional shifts and also working on Sundays. HPCL has recently commissioned an petroleum product terminal at Bagru, near Jaipur on its Mudra-Delhi Product Pipeline. It will take care of the requirements of the products in the area along with other nearby oil Depots at Rewari etc.

He further announced setting up of high level Enquiry Committee headed by Shri M B Lal, former CMD, HPCL. It will have Executive Director, Oil Industry Safety Directorate as Member Secretary and two experts from oil industry as members. Shri Govind Sharma, Principal Secretary Mining and Petroleum, Govt. of Rajasthan will also be a member of the Enquiry Committee.

It may be recalled that Shri Deora has been constantly in touch with CM Rajasthan ever since reports of the fire accident came in yesterday night. He sent Shri D C Dagga, Director (Marketing), IOC to the site yesterday itself and asked Chairman IOC to personally monitor the fire fighting operations. Shri Deora also asked other oil companies like HPCL and ONGC, to gear up for any assistance in this regard. (EOM)