Deora says IOC depot fire will get extinguished when fuel ends

Jaipur, Oct 30 (ANI): Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Friday said there is no other option but to let the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) depot fire burn itself out.

"We will have to let all the fuel burn. Only then, will experts be able to go anywhere near the site. We expect the fuel to burn out by the evening," Deora said after reviewing the situation here.

He said he would also order an inquiry into the matter, but only after due consultation with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

"A enquiry committee will be formed who will investigate and find out the reason behind the mishap. When enquiry committee will be formed, we'll make sure to adopt such measures," he added.

At least 12 people have been killed and 150 others injured in the incident.

The army has been deployed to handle the situation. Twenty-two fire tenders, 300 army personnel and two teams of oil fire experts are currently engaged in bringing the fire under control.

The injured have been admitted to different hospitals in Jaipur. A loss of over Rs. 500 crore is estimated in the incident.

"The latest information that we have is about 20 in Sawai Man Singh Hospital, about 15 in Fortis and 50 in Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital. All precautions have been taken and people have been evacuated from nearby houses and areas," said Aimaduddin Ahmad Khan, Rajasthan Health Minister.

B L Soni, Inspector General, said, "All measures are being taken to douse the fire. Indian Oil's in-house team is here and from Mathura and Panipat are also here." ive lakh residents around the area have been moved to safer locations, including hostellers of 10 engineering and medical colleges.

The State Government has announced an ex-gratia of two lakh rupees to next of kin of those killed in the incident, one lakh to those seriously injured and 50,000 rupees to the injured. (ANI)