At least four people were killed and several others injured in a massive fire that broke out in a storm water drainage network at the ONGC’s oil and gas processing plant in Uran in Maharashtra’s Navi Mumbai early on Tuesday morning.
Nearly 22 fire brigade tenders including ONGC fire services and crisis management team were immediately pressed into action to contain the fire. Firefighters from Uran, JNPT, Navi Mumbai and surroundings also rushed to battle the blaze.
However, the ONGC said there was no impact on oil processing and that the gas was diverted to its Hazira plant in Surat district of Gujarat.
Clouds of dark smoke were seen billowing out of the conflagration on the ONGC premises where the fire erupted around 7 am.
Fire raging at @ONGC_ Uran the neglected hamlet of Navi Mumbai. @CMD_ONGC @dpradhanbjp pic.twitter.com/jcnqfagvWJ
— Nandtara ☮️ (@nandtara) September 3, 2019
Meanwhile, the fire has been successfully doused by the fire-fighting team.
“Fire broke out in storm water drainage in Uran Plant early morning successfully doused within two hours by fire fighting team. #ONGCs robust crisis mitigation preparedness helped put off this major fire in a very short time,” the ONGC said in a tweet.
Fire broke out in storm water drainage in Uran Plant early morning successfully doused within two hours by fire fighting team. #ONGC ’s robust crisis mitigation preparedness helped put off this major fire in a very short time. @PetroleumMin @PTI_News @pallab_ongc @ANI @CMD_ONGC
— ONGC (@ONGC_) September 3, 2019
Earlier, in another tweet, it said, “A fire broke out in storm water drainage early morning 2day in Uran oil & gas processing plant.ONGC fire services & crisis management team immediately pressed in2 action. Fire is being contained. No impact on Oil processing. Gas diverted to Hazira Plant. (sic)”
As a precautionary measure, people in nearby villages have been told to evacuate to safer locations, officials said.
The injured persons were admitted to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.