MUMBAI: There was a blast and fire in a hydrocarbon plant containing 72 tons of fuel used for diesel generation," said chi ef fire officer Prabhat Rahangdale on Wednesday evening, commenting on firefighting operations at the
Mahul BPCL refinery. "The explosion at the hydrocracker plant caused damage to nearby plants. Around 10 fixed firefighting installations of BPCL and several fire tenders from the fire brigade were in operation for dousing the blaze."
He said all plants in the complex have been depressured and shut down for safety and fuel in the affected plant has been kept under "control burning process" till the stock is exhausted.
The BPCL said in a media statement, "The fire occurred around 2.45pm in the compressor shed of (the refinery's) hydrocracker plant. It was initially fought by the refinery's firefighting team before the
Mumbai fire brigade arrived. The injured were attended to at our refinery medical centre, before being taken to hospital."
As per the statement, the hydrocracker unit has been shut down while the other units in the complex are normal. "No product shortage is envisaged on account of the fire."
The injured persons were mainly workers who were on their regular shift. Arjeet Shingala, who was close to the affected plant, said, "Initially we were unable to understand anything after hearing an explosion. We panicked. When we saw smoke coming out from the plant, we began to run for safety."
"In July 2016, three persons died in an explosion in the refinery complex. We request the government to either shift the refinery from here or rehabilitate us at a place where human beings can survive peacefully," said Raju Kamble, a local who was shifted to a Mhada rehabilitation unit in Mahul from Ghatkopar because of a project.
Locals say Wednesday's incident will just worsen air quality in Mahul, which is "alarmingly hazardous owing to the presence of a cluster of industrial units". "All of us here have respiratory problems," said a local.
Six BEST bus routes which go up to Mahul were terminated till
Chembur colony because of the fire.
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Mumbai developed with designated industrial zones, the largest of which is on its east coast, stretching from Sewri all the way to Trombay. This area, dotted with chemical plants, refineries, power generating units and a large waste dump, should ideally have been barred for residential use. The reality is that middle class colonies, shantytowns and rehabilitation camps are to be found here cheek by jowl with hazardous structures. It’s time the authorities looked at the city’s zoning to ensure a safe separation between industrial and residential areas to minimize casualties during disasters. Till this is done, industrial areas should employ more safeguards against hazards.
Smoke rises out of fire which broke out after a blast at BPCL Mahul refineries in Mumbai (PTI)
