Naphtha fire spreads, 4 houses gutted, people moved out
PTI, PANAJI | 20 August 2011 16:22 IST
Several state government agencies were engaged in fire-dousing operation at Vasco town, as the naphtha pipeline fire which broke out last evening is still not doused in one place.
Authorities said that naphtha leaking from the pipeline came into contact with the overhead high-tension electricity line, which caused the fire.
By 2 am today, the fire along the pipeline had been doused, but later in the morning a new fire started at a nearby rivulet, where the leaked naphtha had run into the water.
Deputy Collector Levinson Martins said the original leakage in the pipeline had been plugged temporarily, after allowing leaked naphtha to burn off in a controlled manner.
"But the fire in the rivulet still continues, and will be on till naphtha floating on the water gets exhausted," he added.
The pipeline carries naphtha to Zuari Industries, a fertiliser manufacturing firm, on the outskirts of Vasco city, 40 km south of Panaji.
Five people received burn injuries last night, and are currently being treated at Goa Medical College and Hospital.
People from around 200 houses in the area were asked to move out, by way of caution.
Government sources said this was the second instance of the pipeline getting punctured during a road-repair in the last four months.
Ashok Menon, Director of Fire and Emergency Services, said the team of fire experts was camping at the site.
"The fire cannot be put out as it is emanating from naphtha. But we can control it and we are doing that," Menon told PTI.
Martins denied that the disaster management plan went haywire during the fire. Similar fire had occurred near Zuari Industries plant four months ago, in which 39 vehicles were destroyed.
There are already 2 deaths due to this naptha fire, whole of vasco city is smelling of fuels, somany families are out of thier homes, what is hapenning? Who is responsible.. for all this, . Is still anythinng hidden from the Govt. officials.. Everybody knows that Zuari Agro chemicals is totally responsile for this whole damage. What actions will be taken against them.. WHO will compensate all these people today who are staying in some temporary Govt. given very small houses. Will the government act fairly OR will play games with RALLYs and give just few lakhs of rupees and wash thier hands .
I just want to bring to the notice of the media that the Govt.must take proper and quick action in this matter and compensate these families properly and give them proper permanent homes.
Orelse the ZACL company should be taken to the court...
Why are the authorities playing with fire? Why such frequent accidents? Why no proper precautions are taken? Why is the Naphtha Pipe line properly secluded ? Why are the excavation works done near the pipeline...??
What is the responsibility of M/s Zuari Chemicals?
I would like to bring it to your notice many years back there was a leakage of NAPHTHA pipeline passing thro' the gutters of dacthalem & finally it caught fire in one of the wells in dacthalem,but thereafter nothing had been done or may be the file was closed by paying some huge amount by the Zuari Industries who knows what game this people play,& what do they get by risking other peoples lives,this is the 3rd incident which has ocurred,i was quiet young that time.i cannot recollect the year it happened.
In a way they protect themselves by the higher authorities by paying huge sums & leats bothered about their people,will the history repeat again?????