Toll keeps rising:3 more bodies recovered from IOC depot area

Jaipur, Oct 31 : The death count kept mounting as three more bodies were recovered from Indian Oil Corporation(IOC) depot here today taking the official toll in Thursday's petro-fire tragedy to eight.

The death toll might be higher as six IOC officials reported missing are also feared to be killed.

According to hospital sources, three bodies were recovered and brought to the SMS Hospital here this morning. They were yet to be identified, the sources said.

A fire brigade official said the intensity of the fire which has thrown life out of gear in several villages and colonies adjoining Sitapura on the outskirts of the capital town for two days had now slightly decreased.

However, flames were still raging high and it might take some more time to die off, he added.

Accordingly, fire brigade units deployed there since Thursday evening started narrowing their circle around the burning depot zone to prepare to take up their operations.

Balls of fire from burning oil containers in the depot area spread the blaze in neighbouring factory area last night but alert fire tenders immediately extinguished the flames.

As many as 12 people were feared killed in the devastating fire which broke out around 1930 hrs on Thursday evening with a loud explosion probably due to leakage in the petrol pipeline.

The fire gutted one dozen containers of petroleum products.

Several buildings, including IOC depot headquarters, a vehicle show room and some shops and houses in the neighbourhood were damaged badly.

Nearby villages, colonies, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College Hospital and hostels in nearby institutional area were evacuated.

Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora has announced an exgratia of Rs 10 lakh to next of kin of each deceased, Rs 2 lakh to seriously injured and Rs one lakh to other injured persons.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has also announced an exgratia of Rs 2 lakh to next of kin of each deceased, Rs one lakh to seriously injured and Rs 50,000 to other injured.

Train and road traffic on Jaipur-Kota route passing along the depot depot site, was also adversely affected.

An inquiry committee headed by former IOC Chairman Mahesh B Lal has also been constituted to probe into reasons and circumstances of the fire and it would submit the report by six weeks.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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