IOC fire probe panel to submit report in 60 days

Head of the seven-member committee, probing into the causes of the devastating fire at IOC depot which claimed 12 lives near here, said the final report with facts, finding and suggestions would be submitted to the petroleum ministry within 60 days.

"We have begun our work and visit just today and taking the on the spot survey, interacting with concerned people and planning to submit the report within sixty days", chairman of the committee MB Lal accompained by members told reporters outside the company.

The committee would also talk to eye witnesses and injured people, he said.

When asked whether the valve of the pipeline at IOC depot leaked and no immediate action was ensured, former HPCL CMD and probe committee chairman said, "It is matter of great concern and investigation. Nothing can be commented off hand".

"What kind of lapses and lacunae in internal fire fighting system occurred, it would be found out", he said.

"Whether the preventive support system near the tanks side worked or not, it would also be probed and established in the report", Lal replied to a question.

On the pollution level due to smoke emitted after die out of fire, he said, hydrocarbon contents and quantity would also be scientifically analysed.

Asked about the movement of polluted clouds towards Delhi as reported in tv news channels, he said, "Do not worry. This is a local issue within the radius of ten kms. Emission gathered in sky would settle its own. Of course the hydrocarbon contents needs to be verified". Reminding that the state government is planning to shift such units beyond 35 kms of the  city limit, Lal said, it was a serious issue as human life safety was the prime priority and the shifting or revival of the burn out depot would be another aspect of committee's suggestions to the petroleum ministry.

During their visit to the site, the probe team interacted with the fire Officials who were the first to reach the spot on October 29.

The committee was told that there was initially report from IOC that petrol was leaking from the valve of the fuel depot, according to officials.

As soon the fire tenders reached the site, huge fire engulfed the area and blast occurred due to pressure inside the tanks and blowing of lids, they said.

"It was an instant chain of fire in eleven fuel tanks, valves, and a pump room besides explosion of filled drums", the committee was apprised.

The committee members, accompanied by civil and police authorities, visited the site and surrounding fire affected areas and collected first hand information from eye witnesses about the blaze that has been raging for five days.

The committee members include executive director of oil industry, safety director OISD JP Verma and Rajasthan petroleum secretary Govind Sharmap.

On October 30, Union petroleum minister Murli Deora on his visit to Jaipur has fixed the probe report period for six weeks. General Manager of IOC-Petroleum Gautam Bose said of the twelve deceased six were IOC employees — three officers and
three workmen.

He said blazing fire in two of the 11 fuel storage tanks would die down latest by tomorrow.

When the IOC unit was commissioned in Sitapura the establishment cost was approximately Rs60-70 crore, Bose said, adding that building it anew may cost around Rs300-500 crore.

Meanwhile, IOC's executive director, corporate communications N Srikumar, who visited the site, told PTI that the company would suffer a financial loss to the tune of Rs300 crore.

He said the fuel loss would be around Rs150 crore, while infrastructure loss would not be less than Rs150 crore.

All eleven storage tanks have a total capacity of about one lakh kilo litre of fuel but at the time of fire it was half filled with around 50,000 lakh kl in it, Srikumar said.