Loss from IOC Hazira fire - Rs 45 crores

In a blast and fire incident at the oil depot of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) at Hazira on 05.01.2013 at about 1230 hr,  three persons were found dead (charred to death). It took 24 hr to extinguish the fire. Atleast 75 fire tenders and 30 water tankers of government and private organizations involved in fire fighting measures used 70 lakh liters of water and 80 lakh liters of foam. The fire incident after a blast reportedly happened during welding on tank no. 4 to arrest the leak. The tank contained about 55 lakh liters of diesel (or petrol ?). All three persons died were not regular employees and financial loss was estimated as Rs 45 crores.
The depot did not have any fire tender and its fire pump hose did not function at the time of fire incident.
Questions were raised about the reason for welding on the tank that contained diesel.
Earlier a fire in Jaipur depot on 29 Oct 2009 leading to 11 deaths and Rs 280 crore loss was attributed to not following normal safety procedures.
As per established safety procedures any where in the world, hot work will not be permitted unless the tank is emptied, washed to remove flammable material, tested for absence of flammables, tank is opened to avoid pressure buildup during hot work and safety work permit system is followed. Work will be carried out only under expert supervision.

As it is seen from the news reports, welding on diesel tank, absence/non-working of fire fighting system once again prove that Murphy's law holds good.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/3-killed-in-Indian-Oil-Corporation-Hazira-depot-fire/articleshow/17918547.cms
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/surat-fire-at-ioc-storage-tank-contained-2-killed-2-missing/314206-3-238.html