Eight injured in major fire at IOC petrol pump near Raj Bhavan in Odisha

A major fire broke out at an Indian Oil Corporation petrol pump near Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneshwar (Express photo)

Eight people were injured in a major fire at an Indian Oil Corporation petrol pump near Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneshwar on Wednesday. Three fire tenders were deployed contain the fire and it was brought under control in an hour.

No casualties have been reported so far. The road from AG square to the Governor’s house has been sealed, police officials said. Two of the critically injured have been shifted to SCB hospital Cuttack while others are being treated at Capital hospital Bhubaneswar, officials said.

Three fire tenders were deployed contain the fire and it was brought under control in an hour (Express photo)

While the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, sources in the fire department said prima facie the blaze started in an LPG tank that led to a major explosion. The effect of the explosion was felt within at least a two-kilometer radius.

“There was a major sound and our window panes broke. When we looked out from our terrace, we could see the fire and smoke billowing out from the pump at a distance,” Nirmay Jena (22), who lives in the vicinity said.

Sources in the fire department said prima facie the blaze started in an LPG tank that led to a major explosion (Express photo)

Deputy Fire Officer Ramesh Majhi said a joint investigation by the fire department, explosives department and officials from IOCL into the matter would be launched.

“The cause of the fire is not known and this is at a very preliminary stage to guess what could have caused the fire. Our first response was to contain the blaze and avoid any further damage,” Majhi said.

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has ordered an investigation into the matter (Express photo)

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has ordered an investigation into the matter. “I have asked the petroleum and natural gas secretary and IOCL to investigate the incident and submit a report on the incident immediately,” he said. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also announced free medical treatment for those injured in the fire accident.

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