A major fire broke out at state-owned Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd’s (BPCL) refinery complex on Wednesday, 8 August, in Chembur, Mumbai. At least 45 people were injured in the accident, and one of them is believed to be critical, reported ANI.
Fire and smoke were seen emanating from the Hydro Cracker plant of BPCL on Wednesday afternoon at around 3 pm, after several explosions were heard, a fire brigade official was quoted as saying by PTI.
The fire department reported a level three fire call and nine fire engines, two foam tenders, and two jumbo tankers have been rushed to the refinery complex located at Mahul road in the Chembur area.
He further added that the refinery's own fire-fighting team was also engaged in dousing the flames which were now under control.
A company spokesperson told IANS that the fire erupted inside the compressor shed of a hydrocracker plant within the plant complex, following a leakage of an oil-water mixture in an adjoining plant.
"The affected plant has been shut down, though other operations in the complex are functioning normally," the spokesperson told news agency IANS.
As many as 45 people were injured in the incident, who were taken to nearby civil hospitals.
About 20 of the injured persons were treated by the BPCL Medical Centre and were discharged by the same, while the rest were shifted to Inlaks Hospital for further treatment, NDTV reports.
Out of these, four were kept under observation by the medical teams, while the police described the condition of one patient as “serious”. Several of those injured in the fire, suffered fractures or lacerations following the blast, the report adds.
Fire Brigade chief PS Rahangdale said the firefighting operation was made difficult by the heat and pressure inside the plant. However, firefighting engines sent by the BMC, HPCL, BARC, RCF and MDL to help combat the fire, helped contain it by late evening, NDTV reports.
According to Santosh Aadhar, a local resident, a "massive" explosion was heard near the refinery premises.
"Its tremors shook windows of our building which is 500 metres away from the refinery," said Aadhar.
(With inputs from ANI, PTI, IANS and NDTV)
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