High-level committee begins inquiry into Indian Oil’s Haldia Refinery fire incident

• 37 of the 44 people injured in the fire incident at IOC's Haldia Refinery on December 21 are admitted at multi-speciality hospitals for advanced medical care
• Indian Oil is extending the best medical treatment to the 38 injured, and no effort or cost will be spared to ensure their speedy recovery, said the oil PSU

New Delhi: A high-level committee from Delhi has arrived at Indian Oil Corporation's (IOC) Haldia Refinery to enquire into the cause of the fire incident, said Indian Oil in an official statement on Wednesday. "A high-level committee from Delhi is already on site for inquiring into the cause of the incident," said IOC. A fire broke out at IOC's Haldia Refinery on December 21 during shutdown and maintenance related work, killing three people and injuring 44 others. Indian Oil has said that the primary cause seems to be a flash fire that erupted during shutdown related works.

IOC Haldia Refinery fire: 37 injured people receiving advanced medical care

Thirty-seven of the 44 people injured in the fire incident at Indian Oil's Haldia Refinery are admitted at multi-speciality hospitals for advanced medical care, said Indian Oil on Wednesday. "Among those with injuries, three (03) contract workers have been discharged after preliminary treatment, and thirty-seven (37) others have been admitted at multi-speciality hospitals at Kolkata and one (01) at Tamluk for advanced medical care," IOC said in an official statement.

"The family members of the three contract workers who unfortunately lost their lives during yesterday's incident have been contacted for extending all possible support in this hour of grief," the statement added.

'Indian Oil extending best medical treatment'

While assuring that Indian Oil shall spare no efforts or cost to ensure the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident, the oil PSU said, "IndianOil is extending the best medical treatment to the thirty-eight injured (38), and no effort or cost will be spared to ensure their speedy recovery. Their family members are also being contacted for extending all necessary support.

"The senior management of Indian Oil is continuously monitoring the situation. Indian Oil shall provide all necessary assistance, relief and adequate compensation to the affected workers," the statement added.

According to sources who spoke to PSU Watch on the condition of anonymity, most of those injured were contractual workers and firefighters. No Indian Oil employee or officer has been injured in the incident, said sources. They also added that fire erupted after the completion of an emergency drill, after which maintenance work was supposed to begin.

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)