IOC fire in Jaipur renders many daily wage earners jobless

Jaipur, Oct. 31 : The continuing blaze at the Indian Oil Corporation fuel depot near Jaipur has not only destroyed property worth crores of rupees, but also rendered many daily wage earners jobless.

Since the fire erupted on Thursday, all business activity near the oil depot has stopped.

Some daily wagers have started migrating in search of jobs as they fear it will take a few more days before fire is brought under control and business activities return to normal.

"I stitch clothes. There is no work for the past two three days. Our shops have been closed ever since oil containers exploded. There is no electricity. We are jobless. I have small children. I''m running around in search of some work but of no avail. I''m leaving this place as I''m scared that there may be a similar incident in the future. I m scared," said Teekaram, a daily wager.

Hanuman, another labourer, is also leaving the place along with his family. He says he has not earned anything since the fire broke out.

"It has affected me in every way. There''s nothing to eat for two three days. There is no work. We used to earn about Rs 250 a day. My wife used to earn Rs100 and I used to earn Rs150. There is nothing left now. So we are leaving the village," said Hanuman.

Like Teekaram and Hanuman, thousands of daily wagers make their living by working at Sitapura industrial area. Now they are looking elsewhere for a job as they see no signs of the blaze dying down soon.

All four containers in the depot exploded in Sitapura industrial area and quickly spread to some adjoining industrial units.

The fire damaged many industrial units and business establishments. Small shops which had a narrow escape are closed on the second day as the oil containers continue to spew flames and thick smoke.

Two villages near the depot were evacuated and power was cut off across the region as a precautionary measure.

--ANI