Fire continues to rage; Petroleum Minister visits spot
Press Trust of India / Jaipur Oct 30, 2009, 12:01 IST
The devastating fire engulfing IOC's fuel depot on the outskirts of the city continued to rage today, 16 hours after it broke out claiming the lives of six persons and leaving 150 others injured.
Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, who rushed here to take stock of the situation, said the fire has to die down on its own and there was "no other solution".
"There is nothing else one can do.There is no other solution or alternative," he said when asked if the fire would continue to rage.
Black clouds of smoke were billowing from the tanks, and could be seen at least from a distance of ten kms on the Jaipur-Tonk highway.
District Collector Kuldeep Ranka told PTI that a charred body was clearly visible near the IOC tank premises, but it was not possible to reach and recover it.
With the charred body lying in the premises, the toll has gone up to six though the government said four persons had lost their lives.
Rajasthan Medical and Health Minister I Ahmed Durru Mian said one patient each was in a critical condition at the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital and SMS Hospital. Of the injured, 21 patients were hospitalised and rest discharged.
IOC-Petroleum officials were verifying records of employees present on duty when the fire broke out around 1930 hours yesterday in the densely populated Sitapura industrial area, about 20 kms from here, where dozens of engineering, medical and technical colleges are located.
"It would be premature to comment how many people are trapped inside.Let IOC officials come out with the list of employees who were present," Ranka said.
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