Ujjain: A major mishap was averted when a CNG tanker carrying about three dozen CNG cylinders, suddenly caught fire at a petrol pump in the Rishi Nagar-Shri Vishala Kshetra area on Dewas Road, at about 8.30 am on Friday. The deadly fire which lasted for over two hours, could have devastated residential and commercial establishments within a one kilometre radius, had the tanker not been taken away from the spot on time.
Following angry protests by the local people, the administration sealed the petrol pump. The police also booked the vehicle driver and petrol pump workers for negligent conduct and endangering life.
This incident occurred when the tanker was releasing CNG in a pump, located near the petrol and diesel pumps of Devsara petrol pump. Eye witnesses said there was a sudden gas leakage when the driver of the tanker, Rambabu Sharma started moving his vehicle, which within no time went up in flames. The driver reportedly tried to flee from the spot, but a number of auto-rickshaw and magic vehicle drivers, who had queued-up to fill CNG gas in their vehicles, forced him to move the tanker away at once, as underground diesel and petrol tanks with a capacity of 7000 litres each were also stationed there.
Terrified by the incident, the driver finally agreed to move the tanker and disappeared from the vehicle, parking it about 200 meters away from the Devsara Petrol Pump, and in front of two-wheeler show room on Rishi Nagar (main) road. Flames were seen soaring to a height of 30 ft from the tanker. By then hundreds of residents as well as onlookers had assembled.
A number of people ran towards Mahananda Nagar roads in fear, without locking their homes. Madhav Nagar police and the fire brigade were called in by the people. TI MS Parmar and four fire brigade trucks reached at the spot within 15 minutes, and controlled the situation. Foam was used to douse the fire which took another 15 minutes.
In the mean time, angry residents started shouting slogans over the incident. They said, despite their protests, diesel and petrol pumps were allowed operate in the area. Moreover, supply of CNG was also permitted from the same pump, as the authorities concerned had cancelled the licence of the main CNG station in Nagjhiri, five days ago.
They said authorities concerned had obliged the owner of Devsara petrol pump by allotting an extra CNG pump, despite the fact that there was no space to operate the new pump and strict security measures were expected to be followed there. They complained that auto-rickshaws and magic vehicles used to create a nuisance in the locality, and they had to face many more inconveniences on a daily basis.
They also resorted to a ‘chakkajam’, for some time under the leadership of corporators Vikas Malviya and Santosh Vyas. Collector Sanket Bhondve, along with administrative, municipal and police officials also reached the spot and inspected all points. He also spoke to the agitators and local residents. On his instruction, the Devsara petrol pump was sealed and food, industrial safety and fire brigade officers began investigation.
Meanwhile, Madhav Nagar police authorities registered a case under Section 285 (pertaining to negligent conduct, with respect to fire or combustible matter) and 336 (endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC, against the tanker driver and workers of Devsara petrol pump. The FIR was registered on the application of lawyer Dharmendra Sharma, who resides just behind the pump at 8, Shri Vishala Kshetra.
Sharma said HP and CNG pumps were being simultaneously operated from the accident site. He also quoted reasons like misuse of land, illegalities in operation of pumps, absence of skilled workers, proper safety equipments and negligence on the part of the pump owner, Khanna, as the main reason behind Friday’s incident. He also said if quick action had not beeb taken, lives of thousands of people would have been in danger besides resulting in huge loss of assets. He added that a public interest litigation would soon be filed in the Indore High Court, for the permanent closure of the pump.
