Fire continues to rage; Petroleum Minister visits spot

Jaipur, Oct 30 (PTI) The devastating fire engulfing
Indian Oil Coporation's fuel depot on the outskirts of India's
northern city Jaipur continued to rage Friday, 16 hours after
it broke out claiming the lives of six persons and leaving 150
others injured.

Indian Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, who rushed here
to take stock of the situation, said the fire has to die down
on its own and there was "no other solution".
"There is nothing else one can do.There is no other
solution or alternative," he said when asked if the fire would
continue to rage.
Black clouds of smoke were billowing from the tanks,
and could be seen atleast from a distance of ten kms on the
Jaipur-Tonk highway.
District Collector Kuldeep Ranka told PTI that a
charred body was clearly visible near the IOC tank premises,
but it was not possible to reach and recover it.
With the charred body lying in the premises, the toll
has gone up to six though the government said four persons had
lost their lives.
Rajasthan Medical and Health Minister I Ahmed Durru
Mian said one patient each was in a critical condition at the
Mahatma Gandhi Hospital and SMS Hospital. Of the injured, 21
patients were hospitalised and rest discharged.
IOC-Petroleum officials were verifying records of
employees present on duty when the fire broke out around 1930
hours (IST) Thursday in the densely populated Sitapura
industrial area, about 20 kms from here, where dozens of
engineering, medical and technical colleges are located.
"It would be premature to comment how many people
are trapped inside.Let IOC officials come out with the list of
employees who were present," Ranka said. MORE PTI YG
ANU


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