One dead as massive fire breaks out at Gujarat oil refinery

Officials added that between 6 pm and 8:30 pm, sounds of two more explosions were reported from inside the refinery.

Chief Fire Officer VFES, Nikunj Azad told The Indian Express that the fire fighters were continuously trying to bring the fire under control and the cooling process was “on going”. Azad also confirmed at a fire personnel of VFES had suffered minor burn injuries while fighting the flames. Azad said, “It is a minor injury and the officer is continuing on duty and fighting the fire even right now.”

After 11 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, Vadodara District Collector Bijal Shah told The Indian Express that additional foam fire tenders were summoned from Ankleshwar industrial area in Bharuch district to be kept on standby. The firefighting operations were ongoing at the time of the edition going to press.

“The teams are trying to contain the fire so that it does not spread. Additional foam fire tenders will arrive from Ankleshwar and remain on standby as the teams will also need to be changed if the fire fighting continues overnight. We are taking all precautions and the evacuations that were needed from within the refinery have been done. So far, the surrounding residential areas are not facing any danger, but if the need arises, we will initiate evacuations for residents,” Shah said.

Although the Vadodara Police did not confirm casualties as of 5.30 pm, ambulances were seen rushing in and out of the refinery.  (Express Photo by Bhupendra Rana)

IOCL officials told The Indian Express that the details of employees — who could have been in the line of danger — were being gathered.

“Safety of our employees and surrounding communities remains our utmost priority. The refinery operations are normal. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops,” the official statement further read.

Foam fire tenders of Vadodara Fire and Emergency Services (VFES) of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation were also rushed to the spot late on Monday evening.

Senior police officials, District Collector as well as teams of the Industrial Disaster Response also visited the site.

Meanwhile, traffic police personnel as well as DCP traffic Jyoti Patel rushed to the spot to manage the movement of vehicles and disperse the people from neighbourhoods who had gathered on roads in panic.