NEW DELHI, Dec 21: At least three people were killed and more than 40 injured in a fire at the Indian Oil Corporation’s (IOC’s) Haldia refinery in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district police said.
A senior police officer of Purba Medinipur district said 37 injured people were being referred to a hospital in Kolkata. The official also said the condition of seven of them are stated to be critical.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she was “deeply anguished” by the fire in IOC’s Haldia refinery.
“Three precious lives were lost and my thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. Those injured are being brought to Kolkata through a green corridor. GoWB will extend all assistance to ensure their speedy recovery,” Banerjee said. The IOC said in a statement the accident occurred at a unit of the refinery during shutdown related works. “The primary cause seems to be a flash fire leading to burn injuries to 44 persons and 3 persons have unfortunately succumbed to their injuries,” it said. IOC said the fire has been extinguished and the situation was under control.
(Manas Dasgupta)
