Fire still blazing at IOC site, Gehlot orders report

Jaipur: The fire at the IOC fuel depot in Jaipur continues to rage for the fourth day even as the flames died down in eight of the 11 storage tanks. Two more bodies were spotted at the burning IOC fuel depot in Jaipur on Sunday, pushing the toll to 10.

“The spate of flames is much reduced in the remaining three tankers and it may die down by Monday,” said Jaipur collector Kuldeep Ranka at the site of the fire on the outskirts of the city on Sunday.

He assured that all measures have been taken to ensure that the fire does not spread further.

The fire spread to the roof of the building of a private electronic and instrument company Genus, 200 metres from the IOC complex wall, at about 0700 hrs IST on Sunday. However, it was extinguished by firemen within two hours, said chief fire officer Ishwar Lal Jat.

Though the premises of Genus Overseas Ltd were badly damaged, there was no casualty as no one was present there, he said.

The Rajasthan High Court on Sunday held a special hearing on a PIL alleging that the state government has failed in disaster management as it has not been able to control the fire.

The two charred bodies spotted on Sunday have been identified as those of Kriparam Meena and Ramniwas who worked as chargemen at the depot, IGP (range) BL Soni told PTI.

There are reports about residents in areas adjacent to the fire site complaining of respiratory infection due to smoke emanating from the storage tanks, Ranka said.

Seven bodies have so far been identified and the rest of them have been kept at the SMS hospital mortuary, said Soni, adding, they were handed over to relatives after completing necessary formalities.

The other 34 injured persons are being treated at a number of hospitals in the state capital, Soni said.

A large number of partially burnt official files and documents were recovered from the fields of seven nearby villages, he said.

Besides papers, scrap of aluminium sheets, iron rods, nuts and bolts were also collected from near the site by the police and rescue team.

All these material have been handed over to the IOC, Soni added.

When asked whether any police case has been registered in connection with the fire and related deaths, the IGP said no IOC official came to lodge a complaint.

Twelve trains passing through Jaipur-Sawaimadhopur rail section were diverted to other routes, a railway spokesman said.

Similarly, 95 buses on the Jaipur-Kota highway have also been diverted to other routes, officials said.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan government has directed state officials to prepare a survey report and adopt a follow-up action plan with regard to the incident.

Chairing a high-level review meeting with his cabinet colleagues and senior officials, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot asked the administration not to leave any stone unturned in extending assistance to the victims and ensure that the fire does not spread further, an official release said.