Navi Mumbai: Major fire breaks out at ONGC-plant, four dead
In a distressing incident, a major fire broke out at a state-run ONGC plant in Uran, Navi Mumbai, on Tuesday morning, killing four people. Among those who lost their lives are an ONGC employee and three Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) men. Two other CISF men were injured. The fire reportedly broke out around 7 AM. Here are more details.
ONGC is India's largest crude oil company
ONGC, which stands for Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, is India's largest crude oil and natural gas company. It contributes nearly 70% to domestic production. After the accident was reported, fire tenders from ONGC, Dronagiri, JNPT, Panvel, and Nerulm were engaged in containing the blaze. The fire was doused after two hours. Meanwhile, gas was diverted to Gujarat's Hazira plant, some 350 km away.
Here are the early spot visuals
Maharashtra: Fire breaks out at a cold storage at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) plant in Uran, Navi Mumbai. Fire tenders have reached the spot. pic.twitter.com/V2HSCt58nJ
— ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2019
Nearby area was sealed as precautionary measure
About the incident, ONGC revealed the fire broke out in stormwater drainage and that the situation is being assessed. All workers were evacuated from the plant and nearby areas within 1 km range were sealed. Meanwhile, MLA Manohar Bhoir said residents were taken to safer places. "People living near the plant must not believe rumors," stressed Navi Mumbai's senior police officer Ashok Dudhe.
Intense fire was seen emanating from the plant
#BREAKING | Fire breaks out at ONGC's Gas Processing Plant at Uran in #Maharashtra killing two workers. pic.twitter.com/TSh6ZfPkr7
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) September 3, 2019
Gas supply in city was hit due to fire
The industrial accident severely affected CNG supply in the city. Mahanagar Gas Ltd (MGL) revealed its City Gate station at Wadala was immensely impacted. The company asked consumers to switch to another option, in the meantime. "MGL is ensuring that supply to its domestic PNG consumers would be maintained on priority without interruption," MGL said in a statement, adding that supplies will normalize soon.
Separately, buses were asked to fill their tanks
"All bus depots have been instructed to fill up buses with the gas that is already in the pipeline. We are monitoring the situation and will take a future course of action in co-ordination with ONGC," a spokesperson of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport said.
