Jaipur fire may die out today as toll rises to 11

More than 72 hours after the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) terminal in Jaipur erupted in flames, the fire continued to blaze through Sunday, bellowing thick plumes of pollutant-laced smoke which has now spread to over dozens of villages and residential colonies. Meanwhile, the death toll has gone up to 11.

Flames died down in eight of the 11 storage tanks and the fire would subside completely by Monday, army and fire officials said.

“We will begin another round of rescue operations inside the perimeter of the oil terminal after that,” a fire officer said.

District collector Kuldeep Ranka told reporters that the death toll had gone up to 11, up from seven on Saturday. He said a technical committee would evaluate the condition of the buildings and the overbridges in the vicinity before opening them to the people.
Atmospheric pollution from the accident has become a major health concern for residents in the area. People have started flooding into hospitals complaining of heaviness in the chest, sore throats, irritation in the eyes and skin.

Experts, while advising caution, have said there is no immediate health hazard due to the smoke.

Some people would suffer from high anxiety levels, due to trauma and stress caused by the incident, psychiatrists in the city said.