Fire in OIL pipeline damaged fuel

Siliguri, Dec 20 (UNI) Crude supply of Oil India Limited (OIL) was disrupted for three hours today after a fire in its pipeline near here damaged an unspecified quantity of fuel, official sources said.

District Superintendent of Police Tripurary said the fire, which was noticed at 0940 hours in the pipeline over Mahananda bride, some 400 mts west of New Jalpaiguri station, was doused by four fire engines within ninety minutes.

He said the cause of fire was under investigation. He said to initial report the fire was due to leakage in the pipeline, which came into contact with some burning substance.

A massive sound could be heared when the fuel caught fire in the pipeline. He said a similar fire also happened in 2004.

Soon after the accident, the oil authorities stopped supply of fuel which helped the firefighters to douse the flames. Vital portion of the bridge was also saved by timely action of the firefighters.

Police, however, did not rule out sabotage.

The supply of oil was restored three hours after the leakage was repaired.

Northeast Frontier Railway officials said train services which were suspended for three hours, were also restored after four hours.

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