Ten injured in unit fire

Interestingly, the Dahej police has not registered any offence in the matter so far. PSI S G Basia said it was an accident and not a case of negligence. He also said that no complaint had been lodged by representatives of either the workers or the management.

Workers at the plant say the incident occurred at a place where welding was being done on a steel platform; the job was being carried out by U B Engineering of Pune. UB employee Harendra Singh said the fire broke out when an IPCL employee turned a valve of the distilled wax vessel, causing the liquid to leak on to the floor. Sparks from the welding set fire to the highly inflammable substance. Those working on the floor escaped, but those on the platform were trapped and suffered injuries, he said.

Workers alleged that there were no fire-fighters at the worksite, despite the presence of dangerous chemicals.

General Manager Operations Vijay Sarin, denying that any IPCL employee was at fault, said that workers lifting some heavy material rested on the valve, switching it on. He said the plant had been shut since May 1 for repairs and the vessel had been emptied as a precautionary measure. However, traces of the chemical must have remained in the vessel and pipeline, he said. An inquiry has been ordered.

Sarin said that the fire was put out within 10 minutes and the injured rushed to hospitals in Bharuch and Vadodara.

P S Rao of UB Engineering said that the company would bear all expenses on the treatment of the employees. While Rao said the workers were insured, those in hospital said they had been working for only three or four months and had no idea about insurance.